Enter any address in Ouachita County, Arkansas to see its FEMA flood zone
River overflow along the Ouachita River and widespread flash flooding from heavy rainfall are the dominant flood characteristics for Ouachita County. Between 2015 and 2045, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 105 flood events and 32 flash flood events. For example, heavy rainfall in early January 2025 caused the Ouachita River at Camden to enter minor flood stage, persisting for much of the month. Later that same month, widespread heavy rains brought flooding to portions of the Ouachita River and other waterways across Arkansas.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A, which has no base flood elevation defined, experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $16,868 and an average water depth of 2.3 feet. Properties in Zone X_SHADED, with an average payout of $28,115 and an average water depth of 4.3 feet, also saw significant claims. Residents in areas prone to river flooding and those located in Zone A or Zone X_SHADED should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
41 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Ouachita County, Arkansas has recorded 145 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 32 flash floods and 105 river or area floods. The county has received 28 federal disaster declarations, 5 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1979–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 23, 2026 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2025 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 30, 2023 |
| Hurricane Laura | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Straight-line Winds | Tornado | Apr 12, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 26, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 8, 2016 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 26, 2015 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | May 27, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 13, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 9, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 5, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 2, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 30, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 26, 2024 | 0.00K |
Flood — May 27, 2025
River flooding was noted along the Spring, White, Fourche LaFave, Arkansas, and Ouachita Rivers.
Flood — Feb 13, 2025
Widespread heavy rains brought flooding to portions of the Ouachita, Saline, Fouche LaFave, Black, White, and Little Red Rivers during the middle of February.
Flood — May 9, 2025
River flooding was noted along the Cache and Ouachita Rivers.
Flood — Apr 5, 2025
Heavy rainfall over a multiday period brought flooding to many rivers across Arkansas. Points along the White, Black, Cache, and Ouachita Rivers remained in flood through the remainder of the month.
Flash Flood — Apr 2, 2025
Severe weather, including widespread flash flooding occurred over a five day period across the entire state. This multiday event featured tornadoes, damaging winds, and very large hail. But by far and large, flash flooding and river flooding were the biggest impacts taken away from this unsettled period of weather due to total rainfall amounts between half a foot to over one foot in many locati...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Ouachita County, Arkansas:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Ouachita County, Arkansas that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.