Enter any address in Poinsett County, Arkansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms and levee failures is the dominant flood character in Poinsett County. Recent events include flash flooding on May 22, 2024, caused by a decaying weather system with heavy rain, and a levee break on the Cache River near Pitts on January 29, 2024, which resulted in flash flooding.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone X have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $31,707 and an average water depth of 10.5 feet. Claims in Zone A also indicate significant risk, with an average payout of $23,908 and an average water depth of 4.9 feet. Homeowners in these zones, as well as those in Zone X_Unshaded which has seen higher average payouts, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
8 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Poinsett County, Arkansas has recorded 40 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 35 flash floods and 4 river or area floods. The county has received 32 federal disaster declarations, 6 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 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Jun 25, 2023 |
| Severe Storms And Tornadoes | Tornado | Dec 10, 2021 |
| Hurricane Laura | Hurricane | Aug 26, 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, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 30, 2013 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Associated Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 14, 2011 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jan 29, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 22, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 11, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 31, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 31, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 31, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 1, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 31, 2013 | 424.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 21, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 21, 2013 | 40.00K |
Flash Flood — Jan 29, 2024
A levee broke on the Cache River near Pitts, Arkansas during the morning hours of January 29, 2024. Flash flooding was reported in the Pitts, Arkansas area.
Flash Flood — May 22, 2024
A decaying MCS/MCV moved through the Mid-South during the overnight/early morning hours of May 22. A slow moving cold front was stretched over the Missouri Bootheel and moisture surged northward allowing for plentiful instability. This instability collided with remnant outflow boundaries from previous convection. Peak diurnal heating hours, moisture, and enough lift caused damaging winds, large...
Flood — Feb 11, 2019
A slow moving storm system in the Lower Mississippi Valley produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding, extensive areal and river flooding of adjacent areas over portions of northeast Arkansas on February 11th.
Flash Flood — Aug 31, 2017
The remnants of Harvey tracked across the Mid-South with heavy rain and gusty winds. There were several reports of flash flooding and a few tornadoes.
Flash Flood — Mar 31, 2016
A warm front developed from roughly Northeast Arkansas into Central Arkansas on March 30, 2016. Strong low level southerly winds brought copious amounts of moisture northward into the region. As a result a complex of showers and embedded thunderstorms developed north of the warm front and moved very slowly across Eastern Arkansas. Rainfall amounts topped 5 inches in some areas of Northeast Arka...
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 Poinsett 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 Poinsett 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.