Enter any address in Searcy County, Arkansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe weather events is the dominant flood character in Searcy County. Over the past 30 years, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 25 flash flood events and 15 flood events. Recent examples include significant flash flooding on April 4, 2025, following a multiday severe weather outbreak that dropped over a foot of rain in some locations, and another flash flood event on July 17, 2024, caused by 4 to 9 inches of rainfall in a short period.
These events highlight the potential for rapid water level rises and widespread inundation. Residents in areas prone to flash flooding, particularly those in low-lying areas or near small streams, should pay close attention to weather alerts. Additionally, homeowners in zones with higher flood risk, as indicated by FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program data, should be particularly aware of their property's exposure and consider mitigation measures.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
11 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Searcy County, Arkansas has recorded 40 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 25 flash floods and 15 river or area floods. The county has received 26 federal disaster declarations, 4 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 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 30, 2023 |
| Hurricane Laura | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | May 21, 2019 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 26, 2017 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Dec 26, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 7, 2015 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | Apr 5, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 4, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 17, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Nov 5, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Mar 25, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 29, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 30, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 1, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 27, 2015 | 0.00K |
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 4, 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...
Flash Flood — Jul 17, 2024
A slow moving cold front, located near the Arkansas and Missouri borders, set the stage for a dangerous flood event to unfold on the night of the 16th into the morning of the 17th across north-central into central portions of Arkansas. Rainfall amounts of 4 to 9 inches were measured. This much rain in a relatively short amount of time lead to flash flooding, some of which was significant.
Flood — Nov 5, 2024
Heavy rains led to river flooding on the Buffalo River in early November.
Flood — Mar 25, 2023
Heavy rain brought flooding to parts of Arkansas in late March 2023.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Searcy 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 Searcy 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.