Hempstead County, Arkansas: hazard risk
FEMA rates Hempstead County's overall risk Relatively Low (score 52.1 of 100, higher than 52% of rated U.S. counties); 1 of its 14 hazards are rated Relatively High or Very High, led by ice storm. Its storm record holds 730 events since 1950.
FEMA's rating for each hazard
These are FEMA's county-wide model ratings and this county's storm record. They are not an assessment of any property, address or building, and not insurance advice: a property's risk depends on its own elevation, construction and location.
FEMA gives each hazard its own rating, and a rating does not follow the score from one hazard to the next: a hazard with a higher score can carry a lower rating than another. The table sorts by FEMA's rating, then by score (0 to 100, the county against every other county for that hazard).
| Hazard | Risk rating | Score | Expected annual loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Very High | 98.1 | $2.0M |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 87.7 | $995K |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 72.8 | $1.9M |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 68.9 | $646K |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | 65.0 | $282K |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 75.5 | $811K |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 70.0 | $626K |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | 65.0 | $240K |
| Drought | Relatively Low | 61.2 | $209K |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 54.1 | $50K |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | 43.9 | $3.8M |
| Landslide | Very Low | 34.9 | $309 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 32.8 | $12K |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 12.4 | $76K |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 release. A model of future loss, not a count of past events. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
What the record holds
| Hazard | Records | Deaths | Damage | Rank in state | Rank in U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 248 | 1 | $4.2M | 20th of 75 | 972nd of 3,080 |
| Hail | 198 | 0 | $1K | 23rd of 75 | 624th of 3,080 |
| Heat | 75 | 0 | – | 18th of 75 | 275th of 3,076 |
| Floods | 70 | 0 | $1.9M | 50th of 75 | 1399th of 3,080 |
| Winter storms | 43 | 0 | $69M | 62nd of 75 | 2127th of 3,077 |
| Drought | 41 | 0 | – | 12th of 75 | 827th of 3,063 |
| Tornadoes | 36 | 5 | $43M | 25th of 75 | 903rd of 3,080 |
| Extreme cold | 7 | 0 | $135K | 32nd of 75 | 1809th of 3,076 |
| Lightning | 4 | 0 | $86K | 32nd of 75 | 1155th of 3,080 |
| High wind and dust storms | 2 | 0 | $83K | 69th of 75 | 2829th of 3,080 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 0 | $137K | 52nd of 75 | 857th of 1,849 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 0 | – | 57th of 75 | 2126th of 3,080 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026-06-30; damage in 2025 dollars. Search the record at NCEI.
The full Hempstead County record: every hazard by year and month, the deadliest events and FEMA's declarations.