Searcy County, Arkansas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 05129 · population 7,772 · 666 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 478 records for Searcy County, Arkansas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 352 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (127 records). The most damaging was the January 26, 2009 ice storm ($68.8 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 26 declarations naming the county since 1969, 24 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
- 478on 352 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 02 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $96Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 17strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 26latest 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 Searcy County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 127 since 1968. 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 | 127 | 94 | 1968-2024 | 0 | 0 | $5.0M | 63 of 75 |
| Winter storms | 116 | 98 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $70M | 4 of 75 |
| Hail | 112 | 82 | 1958-2024 | 0 | 0 | $995 | 49 of 75 |
| Floods | 42 | 38 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $8.5M | 44 of 75 |
| Tornadoes | 17 | 15 | 1958-2023 | 0 | 2 | $10M | 68 of 75 |
| Drought | 16 | 16 | 2000-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 55 of 75 |
| Wildfires | 13 | 10 | 2010-2014 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 of 75 |
| Extreme cold | 8 | 8 | 2007-2014 | 0 | 0 | – | 20 of 75 |
| Heat | 8 | 8 | 2007-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 59 of 75 |
| High wind and dust storms | 7 | 7 | 2007-2013 | 0 | 0 | $483K | 37 of 75 |
| Heavy rain | 6 | 4 | 2009-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 39 of 75 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 4 | 4 | 2005-2012 | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | 39 of 75 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2002-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 64 of 75 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 50 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 Searcy County had?
NOAA records 17 tornadoes in Searcy County from 1958 to 2023, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries recorded in the county. 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 17 tornadoes whose track touched Searcy County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 17, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Arkansas.
Every tornado record filed for Searcy County (17)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-02-16 | Canaan, Searcy County | EF1 1.35 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2023-02-16 | Pindall, Searcy County | EF2 4.25 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $97K |
| 2022-03-06 | Oxley, Searcy County | EF1 0.8 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $30K |
| 2017-03-07 | Pindall, Searcy County | EF2 10.69 mi x 700 yd | 0 | 0 | $241K |
| 2014-09-17 | Point Peter, Searcy County | EF0 0.41 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $12K |
| 2006-03-11 | Evening Star, Searcy County | F1 0.8 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-11-27 | Witts Spgs, Searcy County | F1 2.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1993-04-19 | Marshall To, Searcy County | F0 1.5 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 1993-04-19 | Canaan To, Searcy County | F1 16.5 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 1981-05-13 | Searcy County | F0 2 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1980-04-07 | Searcy County | F1 1.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1974-05-14 | Searcy County | F1 25 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1973-05-07 | Searcy County | F2 2.7 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1961-05-08 | Searcy County | F2 1.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1961-05-07 | Searcy County | F2 10.8 mi x 333 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1961-03-12 | Searcy County | F2 18.8 mi x 833 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1958-04-03 | Searcy County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $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 Searcy County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 16, 2023 tornado ($9,685 in damage in 2025 dollars).
This tornado touched down near Dakota Rd. and Highway 27. Along the path, trees were uprooted and snapped, , in addition to a roof removed from a small shed. The tornado appears to have dissipated at 225 am CST.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1081386)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-28 | Flash FloodLandis, Searcy County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-28 | Flash FloodOxley, Searcy County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormSearcy County · forecast zone Eastern, Central And Southern Searcy County Higher Elevations | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormSearcy County · forecast zone Searcy County Lower Elevations | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-04-06 | Heavy RainWitts Spgs, Searcy County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-04-05 | FloodSilver Hill, Searcy County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-04-04 | Flash FloodWatts, Searcy County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-18 | Winter StormSearcy County · forecast zone Eastern, Central And Southern Searcy County Higher Elevations | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-18 | Winter StormSearcy County · forecast zone Northwest Searcy County Higher Elevations | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-18 | Winter StormSearcy County · forecast zone Searcy County Lower Elevations | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-09 | Winter StormSearcy County · forecast zone Eastern, Central And Southern Searcy County Higher Elevations | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-09 | Winter StormSearcy County · forecast zone Searcy County Lower Elevations | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961-03-12 | TornadoSearcy County | F2 18.8 mi x 833 yd | 0 | 2 | $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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-01-26 | Ice StormSearcy County · forecast zone Searcy | 0 | 0 | $69M | |
| 1997-03-01 | Thunderstorm WindMarshall, Searcy County | 0 | 0 | $3.7M | |
| 2008-03-18 | Flash FloodMarshall, Searcy County | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 1993-04-19 | TornadoCanaan To, Searcy County | F1 16.5 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 2008-03-18 | FloodWoolum, Searcy County | 0 | 0 | $685K | |
| 2002-12-03 | Winter StormSearcy County · forecast zone Searcy | 0 | 0 | $402K | |
| 2013-12-05 | Winter StormSearcy County · forecast zone Searcy | 0 | 0 | $380K | |
| 2012-09-07 | Thunderstorm WindMarshall, Searcy County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $321K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: March 12, 1961 (tornado, Searcy County); April 3, 1958 (tornado, Searcy County); May 7, 1973 (tornado, Searcy 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 Searcy 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 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 33 | 52 | 26 | 8 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 25 | 42 | 44 |
| Hail | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 38 | 40 | 16 | 10 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 19 | 13 | 8 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Searcy County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 51 · Feb 57 · Mar 64 · Apr 79 · May 52 · Jun 28 · Jul 31 · Aug 39 · Sep 16 · Oct 16 · Nov 16 · Dec 29 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Searcy County
FEMA's register lists 26 declarations that include Searcy County: 19 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (11) and flood (4).
| 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 |
| 2023-04-04 | DR-4700 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 2019-06-08 | DR-4441 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2017-06-15 | DR-4318 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2016-02-05 | DR-4254 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2015-06-26 | DR-4226 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2014-01-06 | DR-4160 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2013-06-25 | DR-4124 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2011-05-02 | DR-1975 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated Flooding |
| 2009-06-16 | DR-1845 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2009-02-06 | DR-1819 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009-01-28 | EM-3301 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008-03-26 | DR-1751 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2005-09-02 | EM-3215 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-05-07 | DR-1516 | Severe Storm | Sever Storms, Flooding and Landslides |
| 2003-01-06 | DR-1450 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Ice Storm |
| 2000-12-29 | DR-1354 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm |
| 1997-04-14 | DR-1176 | Flood | Flooding, Severe Storms |
| 1982-12-13 | DR-673 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1976-12-03 | EM-3019 | Drought | Drought |
| 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.
FEMA's modeled risk for Searcy County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Searcy County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.4 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 | Very High | $2.2M | 1.9 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $8K | 1.9 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $103K | once in about 265 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.0M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $121K | 59 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $29K | 9 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $390K | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $229K | 3.3 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 Searcy 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 Searcy CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Searcy County's FEMA declarations (CSV)26 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis