Enter any address in Prairie County, Arkansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event in Prairie County, AR, with 35 such events recorded in the last 30 years. Riverine flooding also occurs, with 58 flood events noted in the same period. Recent examples include flash flooding on June 14, 2025, and April 6, 2025, which saw rivers like the White River remain in flood for extended periods due to multiday heavy rainfall.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $31,105 and an average water depth of 4.1 feet. While fewer claims have been filed in Zone X_Unshaded, these also resulted in an average payout of $11,368 with an average water depth of 1.5 feet. Homeowners in areas designated as Zone A, or those located near rivers and streams, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
29 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Prairie County, Arkansas has recorded 98 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 35 flash floods and 58 river or area floods. The county has received 22 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 (1969–2026)
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 |
| 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, And Associated Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 14, 2011 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 23, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 29, 2009 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | May 29, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 14, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 8, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 7, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 6, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 4, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 24, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Feb 13, 2023 | 0.00K |
Flood — May 29, 2025
River flooding was noted along the Spring, White, Fourche LaFave, Arkansas, and Ouachita Rivers.
Flash Flood — Jun 14, 2025
A stationary front across the Mid-West portion of the CONUS led to a ample warm sector with plenty of moisture and warm air streaming into the Natural State which led to multiple days of severe weather which included tornadoes, wind damage, and several instances of flash flooding across the state as Arkansas saw several days of moderate to heavy rainfall.
Flood — Feb 8, 2025
Heavy rains brought flooding to portions of the middle to lower White River during the early to middle portion of February.
Flash Flood — Jun 7, 2025
A cold front swept from northwest to southeast across Arkansas which initiated strong to severe thunderstorms ahead of the line. Of these storms, some would reach severe criteria producing a swath of wind damage and numerous instances of flash flooding across the state of Arkansas.
Flood — Apr 6, 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.
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 Prairie 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 Prairie 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.