Prairie County, Arkansas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 05117 · population 8,271 · 648 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 503 records for Prairie County, Arkansas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 393 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (166 records). The deadliest day on its record was March 21, 1952: tornado records filed for Prairie County that day count 6 deaths across 2 records. FEMA has issued 22 declarations naming the county since 1969, 20 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 24, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 503on 393 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 851 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $159Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 36strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 22latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Prairie County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 166 since 1957. 45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in May and June. The rank column places the county among Arkansas's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 166 | 131 | 1957-2025 | 0 | 2 | $1.7M | 40 of 75 |
| Floods | 93 | 80 | 1997-2025 | 1 | 0 | $60M | 12 of 75 |
| Hail | 92 | 78 | 1962-2026 | 0 | 0 | $104K | 50 of 75 |
| Winter storms | 61 | 60 | 1997-2026 | 1 | 1 | $1.7M | 29 of 75 |
| Tornadoes | 36 | 31 | 1950-2025 | 6 | 40 | $91M | 19 of 75 |
| Drought | 15 | 15 | 2000-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 59 of 75 |
| Heat | 10 | 10 | 2007-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 40 of 75 |
| High wind and dust storms | 8 | 8 | 2006-2013 | 0 | 0 | $500K | 25 of 75 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 7 | 4 | 2012-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 of 75 |
| Heavy rain | 5 | 5 | 2008-2022 | 0 | 8 | $1.6M | 28 of 75 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 5 | 5 | 2005-2012 | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | 18 of 75 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 1997-2012 | 0 | 0 | $444K | 40 of 75 |
| Extreme cold | 2 | 2 | 2007-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 65 of 75 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Prairie County had?
NOAA records 36 tornadoes in Prairie County from 1950 to 2025, the strongest rated F3, with 6 deaths and 40 injuries recorded in the county. That is 19th of 75 Arkansas counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 37 tornadoes whose track touched Prairie County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 36: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 13 people, 6 of them in Prairie County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-11-15 21:36, as SPC files it | Wrightsville | F2 | 49 mi | 5 |
| 1952-03-21 17:20, as SPC files it | Carlisle | F2 | 13.3 mi | 5 |
| 1995-11-10 23:02, as SPC files it | Des Arc | F2 | 8.5 mi | 2 |
| 1952-03-21 17:20, as SPC files it | Hazen | F0 | 0.1 mi | 1 |
| 1999-01-21 18:21, as SPC files it | Des Arc | F3 | 39 mi | 0 |
| 1950-03-26 21:15, as SPC files it | Georgetown | F3 | 14.9 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Arkansas.
Every tornado record filed for Prairie County (36)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-06-12 | Screeton, Prairie County | EFU 0.38 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-03-31 | Hayley, Prairie County | EF1 1.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-04-30 | Four Mile Corner, Prairie County | EF0 0.29 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2019-05-18 | Slovak, Prairie County | EF0 0.25 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-02 | Four Mile Corner, Prairie County | EF0 4.49 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-03-09 | Slovak, Prairie County | EF1 1.23 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $23K |
| 2019-03-09 | Screeton, Prairie County | EF1 2.42 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $12K |
| 2018-06-13 | Little Dixie, Prairie County | EF0 1.02 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2014-10-02 | Stuttgart Municipal Airport, Prairie County | EF1 4.08 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2011-04-25 | Crossroad, Prairie County | EF1 6.22 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $33K |
| 2010-07-11 | Slovak, Prairie County | EF0 0.34 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 2008-05-10 | Fairmount, Prairie County | EF1 0.23 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-05-02 | Center Pt, Prairie County | EF1 2.58 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2008-05-02 | Screeton, Prairie County | EF1 1.55 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-10-18 | Fairmont, Prairie County | F2 17.2 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | $19M |
| 2002-12-18 | Des Arc, Prairie County | F1 8.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-12-18 | Hazen, Prairie County | F0 2 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-02-24 | Slovak, Prairie County | F2 12.7 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-02-13 | Hazen, Prairie County | F2 15.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-01-21 | Des Arc, Prairie County | F1 17 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-01-21 | Hazen, Prairie County | F2 7 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-11-10 | Ulm, Prairie County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-03-06 | Prairie County | F1 13 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1989-03-30 | Prairie County | F1 7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1988-11-15 | Prairie County | F2 6 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $25M step |
| 1985-04-23 | Prairie County | F2 8 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1982-04-02 | Prairie County | F2 2.5 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1978-04-17 | Prairie County | F2 12.8 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1977-03-11 | Prairie County | F0 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1975-02-22 | Prairie County | F1 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1954-04-28 | Prairie County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1953-02-20 | Prairie County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1952-03-21 | Prairie County | F2 13.3 mi x 417 yd | 5 | 15 | $250K step |
| 1952-03-21 | Prairie County | 1 | 5 | $3K step | |
| 1951-02-20 | Prairie County | F2 92.6 mi x 333 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1950-03-26 | Prairie County | F3 14.9 mi x 1,760 yd | 0 | 20 | $250K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Prairie County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 30, 2022 tornado ($50,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
A video posted to social media showed a brief weak tornado south of Des Arc. The tornado initially began in a farm field near the intersection of North Simmons Road and East Skarda Road. It affected farming facilities on East Skarda Road, blowing the roof and doors off of a farm shop. It also blew propane tanks out of the shop. Two trees were blown over, and multiple power poles were snapped in two. It then lifted shortly after hitting the farm shop.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1016063)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-26 | HailFour Mile Corner, Prairie County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-23 | Winter StormPrairie County · forecast zone Prairie | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-14 | Flash FloodUzzell, Prairie County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-12 | TornadoScreeton, Prairie County | EFU 0.38 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-07 | Flash FloodMooresville, Prairie County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindThurman, Prairie County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-01 | FloodDes Arc, Prairie County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-29 | FloodDes Arc, Prairie County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-01 | FloodDes Arc, Prairie County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-04-06 | FloodDes Arc, Prairie County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-18 | Winter StormPrairie County · forecast zone Prairie | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-08 | FloodDes Arc, Prairie County | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952-03-21 | TornadoPrairie County | F2 13.3 mi x 417 yd | 5 | 15 | $250K step |
| 1952-03-21 | TornadoPrairie County | 1 | 5 | $3K step | |
| 2009-02-28 | Winter WeatherPrairie County · forecast zone Prairie A traffic accident on the Interstate 40 White River bridge resulted in one indirect fatality and one indirect injury. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2011-05-01 | FloodHickory Plains, Prairie County Part of U.S. Highway 70 was closed by flooding, as were parts of Arkansas Highways 11, 33, and 38. Part of the asphalt pavement on U.S. Highway 70 was scoured away by the water between DeValls Bluff and Biscoe. The force of the water left holes two feet deep on Arkansas Highway 38 in the northern part of the county. ... | 1 | 0 | $33M | |
| 1950-03-26 | TornadoPrairie County | F3 14.9 mi x 1,760 yd | 0 | 20 | $250K step |
| 2008-07-22 | Heavy RainBiscoe, Prairie County Heavy rain contributed to a fiery pile-up on Interstate 40 near mile marker 203. When the heavy rain began, one vehicle tried to pull onto the shoulder. That vehicle was rear-ended, and in the ensuing chain-reaction, six tractor-trailers and three cars were destroyed. A large fire ensued. Ten fire engines and rescue ... | 0 | 8 | $1.6M | |
| 1996-03-24 | Thunderstorm WindDes Arc, Prairie County Thunderstorm winds blew the roof off a shed and downed some trees. A mobile home was also flipped over and a man inside at the time sustained minor injuries. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1986-03-11 | Thunderstorm WindPrairie County | 0 | 1 | – |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-05-01 | FloodHickory Plains, Prairie County | 1 | 0 | $33M | |
| 2004-10-18 | TornadoFairmont, Prairie County | F2 17.2 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | $19M |
| 2008-03-18 | FloodEnarc, Prairie County | 0 | 0 | $14M | |
| 2017-05-01 | FloodDes Arc, Prairie County | 0 | 0 | $3.0M | |
| 2014-07-01 | FloodHickory Plains, Prairie County | 0 | 0 | $2.9M | |
| 2008-07-22 | Heavy RainBiscoe, Prairie County | 0 | 8 | $1.6M | |
| 2009-12-24 | FloodHickory Plains, Prairie County | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 2011-05-01 | Flash FloodHickory Plains, Prairie County | 0 | 0 | $426K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: November 15, 1988 (tornado, Prairie County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Prairie County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 0 | 5 | 19 | 56 | 36 | 39 | 10 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 25 | 38 | 28 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 31 | 31 | 14 | 10 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 14 | 30 | 12 |
| Tornadoes | 6 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 3 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 38 · Feb 53 · Mar 55 · Apr 71 · May 62 · Jun 71 · Jul 31 · Aug 34 · Sep 19 · Oct 19 · Nov 19 · Dec 31 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Prairie County
FEMA's register lists 22 declarations that include Prairie County: 15 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (10) and hurricane (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3636 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-05-21 | DR-4873 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2025-04-05 | EM-3627 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2020-08-27 | EM-3541 | Hurricane | Hurricane Laura |
| 2020-04-03 | DR-4518 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3461 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-06-15 | DR-4318 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2016-05-06 | DR-4270 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2011-05-02 | DR-1975 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated Flooding |
| 2010-02-04 | DR-1872 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2009-12-03 | DR-1861 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2009-06-16 | DR-1845 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2009-01-28 | EM-3301 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008-09-18 | DR-1793 | Hurricane | Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Hurricane Gustav |
| 2008-03-26 | DR-1751 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2005-09-02 | EM-3215 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002-01-24 | DR-1400 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2001-03-13 | DR-1363 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2000-12-29 | DR-1354 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm |
| 2000-12-28 | EM-3159 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm |
| 1988-11-23 | DR-817 | Tornado | Severe Storms & Tornadoes |
| 1969-02-15 | DR-254 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Prairie County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 93 flood or flash flood records for Prairie County from 1997 to 2025, on 80 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Prairie County ranks 1384th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Ike | 2008-09-13 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Gustav | 2008-09-02 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.8 million on 87 claims filed in Prairie County; the most in one year was 46 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1989: 2 · 2004: 1 · 2007: 1 · 2008: 10 · 2009: 1 · 2011: 46 · 2017: 24 · 2025: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Prairie County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Prairie County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.0 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $317K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $1.5M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $2.3M | once in about 187 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $277K | 19 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $158K | 4 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $69K | 11 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $3.7M | 2.6 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $249K | 2.5 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Prairie County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in ArkansasEvery Arkansas tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in ArkansasThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Arkansas recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Prairie CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Prairie County's FEMA declarations (CSV)22 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis