Enter any address in Union County, Arkansas to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from thunderstorms is the most frequent type of flood event in Union County, AR, with 62 recorded instances in the last 30 years. Other flood events, including tropical storms, have also occurred. Recent flash flood events were noted in April 2025 and September 2025, driven by weather systems including cold fronts and upper-level disturbances that created unstable atmospheric conditions.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that properties in Zone A have experienced the highest number of claims, with an average payout of $14,215 and an average water depth of 1.9 feet. While Zone X (preferred flood risk) has fewer claims, one claim in this zone had a significantly higher average payout of $63,544, indicating potential for substantial damage even in lower-risk areas. Homeowners in Zone A, as well as those in Zone X with a history of claims or located near areas prone to flash flooding, should pay particular attention to flood risk.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
39 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Union County, Arkansas has recorded 69 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 62 flash floods and 5 river or area floods. The county has received 20 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 |
| Hurricane Laura | Hurricane | Aug 26, 2020 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Oct 29, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 27, 2009 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 5, 2008 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 14, 2001 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Apr 26, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 24, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Apr 5, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 15, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Apr 9, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 12, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 11, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jan 2, 2023 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 3, 2022 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 9, 2021 | 0.00K |
Flash Flood — Apr 26, 2025
The approach of an upper trough over the Southern Plains on April 26th helped to reinforce a weak cold front southeast into Southeast Oklahoma, Southwest Arkansas, and Northeast Texas during the late afternoon through the evening hours. Warm and humid air south of the front contributed to enhanced instability, with large scale forcing and adequate wind shear resulting in the development of scat...
Flash Flood — Sep 24, 2025
A pre-frontal surface trough extended out in advance of a weak cool front over Western Arkansas and Southeast Oklahoma during the early morning hours of September 24th, with adequate forcing aloft associated with an upper level disturbance that ejected northeast ahead of an upper level trough entering the Southern Plains. A south-southwesterly low level flow yielded increased moisture and insta...
Flash Flood — Apr 5, 2025
A stationary front extended across portions of Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas during the early morning hours on April 4th, but lifted north into Southeast Oklahoma and Western Arkansas during the day. This was in response to an intensifying low level jet that developed ahead of a large upper trough that extended from the Intermountain West into the Plains, which provided the necessary l...
Flash Flood — Mar 15, 2024
Strong and deep convection became widespread over the Ark-La-Tex and downstream portions of southern Arkansas on March 15th. This occurred along an outflow boundary on the southwestern flank of a decaying MCS, and a favorable environment encouraged increased training over several hours. The mesoscale environment was characterized by ML CAPE of 1000-2000 J/kg, PWATs of 1.5-1.8 inches, and deep l...
Flood — Apr 9, 2024
A frontal boundary became stationary across the heart of the Ark-La-Tex region in vicinity of the Interstate 30 corridor on April 8th before slowly advancing southeast on April 9th. Concurrently, very moist southwest flow aloft resulting from a nearly cut-off low across the Desert Southwest provided for precipitable water values near 2 inches. Thunderstorms developed and gradually spread nor...
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 Union 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 Union 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.