Enter any address in Phillips County, Arkansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding and river flooding drive the flood risk profile in Phillips County, shaped by 12 flash flood events, 6 general flood events, and 1 tropical storm over the last 30 years. Heavy rain events can occur throughout the year, such as multiple rounds of rain that flooded roads across the county in December 2020, and heavy rainfall from an upper-level low system that caused flash flooding in East-Central Arkansas on June 9, 2021.
National Flood Insurance Program records indicate claims across multiple zones, with the highest volume concentrated in Zone A at 284 claims averaging a 2-inch recorded water depth and $9,333 in payouts. Unshaded Zone X accounts for 74 claims with an average 2-inch water depth and $6,909 payouts, while Zone X claims average a 3-inch water depth with $34,046 payouts across 31 claims.
Homeowners and real estate agents working in Zone A and unshaded Zone X should pay the closest attention to property risk, as these areas account for the vast majority of historical flood insurance claims in the county.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
6 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Phillips County, Arkansas has recorded 19 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 12 flash floods and 6 river or area floods. The county has received 18 federal disaster declarations, 2 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1968–2026)
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 |
| 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 | Mar 8, 2016 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Associated Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 14, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 27, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | May 2, 2008 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 5, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Dec 31, 2020 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 23, 2020 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Apr 13, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 22, 2018 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 20, 2011 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2011 | 200.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 16, 2010 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 6, 2009 | 500.00K |
Flash Flood — Apr 5, 2025
The front eventually sagged south back into the Mid-South during the early morning hours of April 5th. Strong low-level moisture transport into the frontal zone resulted in heavy rain and training storms across northern sections of the Mid-South, mainly north of I-40. A bow echo developed along and just south of the slowly advancing front. This feature crossed the entire forecast area producing...
Flash Flood — Jun 9, 2021
An upper low continued to meander across the region on June 9, 2021. Weak upper-level disturbances rotated around the upper low and interacted with a very moist air mass across the Mid-South to produce several rounds of heavy rain across East-Central Arkansas and North Mississippi. There were several instances of flash flooding.
Flood — Dec 31, 2020
Several rounds of rain moved across east-central Arkansas late in 2020. A few roads were flooded across Phillips County.
Flash Flood — Jun 23, 2020
A cold front sagged into the Mid-South and stalled across east-central Arkansas into northwest Mississippi. A strongly unstable airmass combined with enough wind shear to produce numerous thunderstorms. One became severe and produced damaging winds in Helena - West Helena along with some flash flooding.
Flood — Apr 13, 2019
Heavy rain across portions of eastern Arkansas resulted in some flooding of roadways.
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 Phillips 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 Phillips County, Arkansas that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, or a federally backed loan, 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.