Enter any address in St. Francis County, Arkansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from heavy rainfall events is the dominant flood character in St. Francis County. Over the last 30 years, the NOAA Storm Events Database recorded 16 flash flood events and 5 general flood events, which resulted in one fatality. Recent examples include flash flooding on June 9, 2021, caused by heavy rain from an upper-level low, and on May 9, 2024, when a cold front produced locally heavy rainfall that made some roads impassable.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data indicates that properties in Zone A have experienced the most frequent claims, with an average payout of $34,650 and an average water depth of 4.0 feet. Claims in Zone X and Zone X_Unshaded also show instances of flooding, though with lower average payouts and water depths. Residents in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X and Zone X_Unshaded, should pay close attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
7 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
St. Francis County, Arkansas has recorded 21 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 16 flash floods and 5 river or area floods. The county has received 22 federal disaster declarations, 5 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, And Associated Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 14, 2011 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 29, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 27, 2009 |
| Severe Winter Storm | Severe Ice Storm | Jan 26, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Mar 18, 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 | May 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 9, 2021 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 9, 2016 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jan 3, 2016 | 0.00K (1 deaths) |
| Flash Flood | Jun 29, 2014 | 500.00K |
| Flash Flood | Dec 21, 2013 | 0.00K |
| Flood | May 1, 2011 | 752.00K |
| Flash Flood | Oct 30, 2009 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 29, 2009 | 0.00K |
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 — May 9, 2024
A cold front that initiated convection on May 8th continued into the overnight hours of May 9th. Enough instability and precipitable water values were above climatology and resulted in locally heavy rainfall making some roads impassable.
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.
Flash Flood — Mar 9, 2016
A classic heavy rain pattern set up over the Mid-South during the period of March 9th, 2016 to March 13th, 2016. A cold front stretched from Nebraska to Texas on the morning of March 8th. The front moved southeastward and stalled across Southeast Missouri as an upper level low remained stationary over Texas. A very moist atmosphere was in place over the Mid-South south of this boundary. Several...
Flood — Jan 3, 2016
Heavy rainfall at the end of 2015 resulting in flooding on the St. Francis River in Eastern Arkansas into early 2016. A man was swept away by flood waters near Newcastle, Arkansas on January 3, 2016.
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 St. Francis 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 St. Francis 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.