Enter any address in Sebastian County, Arkansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Sebastian County. Between 1993 and 2023, NOAA Storm Events data recorded 106 flash flood events and 36 general flood events. Recent examples include flash flooding on May 19, 2025, and April 4, 2025, both attributed to strong thunderstorms producing locally heavy rainfall.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the most claims, with an average payout of $48,440 and an average water depth of 2.3 feet. Properties in Zone X, which includes areas with moderate flood risk, have also seen significant claims with a higher average payout of $54,674, though with a lower average water depth of 1.6 feet. Homeowners in Zone A and Zone X, as well as those in Zone UNKNOWN with an average water depth of 6.0 feet, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
59 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Sebastian County, Arkansas has recorded 142 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 106 flash floods and 36 river or area floods. The county has received 21 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 (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 |
| 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 | Dec 26, 2015 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Severe Storm | May 7, 2015 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Dec 5, 2013 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Jan 26, 2009 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | May 19, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 4, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 14, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 3, 2024 | 10.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 24, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 14, 2023 | 75.00K |
| Flood | Feb 8, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jun 10, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 10, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 8, 2022 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — May 19, 2025
Severe thunderstorms developed over central Oklahoma along and ahead of a dry line during the afternoon of the 19th, as an upper level disturbance approached the Southern Plains. These thunderstorms moved northeast off the dry line and across portions of northwestern Arkansas during the evening hours. The atmosphere east of the dry line across northwestern Arkansas became very unstable during t...
Flash Flood — Apr 4, 2025
Strong thunderstorms developed across portions of northwestern Arkansas during the early morning hours of the 4th, as lift associated with an approaching upper level disturbance increased north of a stationary front across northeastern Oklahoma and southern Arkansas. Additional rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms occurred across the area during the evening of the 4th, and then again during...
Flash Flood — Mar 14, 2024
Severe thunderstorms developed across northwestern Arkansas on the 14th, as a cold front moved through the area. The combination of very strong instability and strong deep-layer wind shear resulted in some supercell thunderstorms developing. The strongest storms produced very large hail to grapefruit size and damaging wind gusts.
Flash Flood — Jun 3, 2024
A squall line moved through northwestern Arkansas during the early afternoon hours of the 3rd. Damaging wind gusts and localized flash flooding occurred as the storms moved through the area.
Flash Flood — Mar 24, 2023
Strong thunderstorms developed across northwestern Arkansas during the afternoon and evening hours of the 23rd, as a cold front moved slowly into the area. The strongest thunderstorms produced hail up to penny size. Locally heavy rainfall as a result of multiple rounds of thunderstorms developing along the slow-moving front, and spreading over the same areas, resulted in some flash flooding dur...
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 Sebastian 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 Sebastian 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.