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FEMA NRI 1.19.0Updated Nov 2023 · Coverage 2014–2023Methodology

Calhoun County Disaster Risk

Calhoun County, Arkansas

FEMA Risk Rating

Very Low

National Percentile

2th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#75

of 75 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

7th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 7% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 8% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Very Low

Higher than 23% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 53% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 31% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Calhoun County, Arkansas

Calhoun County's remarkably low risk

Calhoun County's composite risk score of 2.26 is among the lowest in the entire nation, reflecting exceptional safety from natural disasters. This "very low" rating indicates minimal exposure across virtually all hazard categories.

Arkansas's safest county by far

Calhoun County's 2.26 is less than one-twentieth of the state average of 55.51, making it dramatically safer than any other Arkansas county. The county's central location and low-risk profile create an exceptionally protected environment.

Dramatically safer than all neighbors

Calhoun County's 2.26 is far below Bradley County's 30.76 and every surrounding county in Arkansas. Its extreme safety makes it an outlier even within the state's lower-risk communities.

No single dominant hazard exists

Calhoun County's highest risk is earthquake at 53.15, which remains moderate even by national standards. Tornado (22.81), flood (6.87), and wildfire (7.57) risks are minimal, creating a uniquely protected county.

Standard insurance coverage sufficient

Calhoun County residents can rely on basic homeowners insurance without specialized disaster coverage; the county's risk profile is exceptionally low. Standard maintenance and common-sense preparedness are sufficient for this safe community.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index · Narrative reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Calhoun County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    EarthquakePrepare
    53th percentile
  2. #2
    HurricanePrepare
    31th percentile
  3. #3
    TornadoPrepare
    23th percentile

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.19.0 · Percentiles are national (3,144 counties)

Local Resources

Risk Advisory: Calhoun County

Risk Verdict

Calhoun County sits in the lower tier of U.S. counties for natural disaster exposure, ranked at the 2th percentile nationally. Even at the 2th percentile, Calhoun County's composite score reflects real hazard exposure categories — knowing which ones apply locally enables targeted, efficient household preparedness.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is Calhoun County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 53th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Hurricane ranks second at the 31th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include tornado (23th percentile), wildfire (8th percentile), flood (7th percentile).

Preparedness Context

At the 53th percentile nationally for earthquake exposure, Calhoun County households benefit from practicing Drop, Cover, and Hold On — the protocol that minimizes injury during shaking. Getting under a sturdy table or desk and holding on until shaking stops is the key action. Alongside earthquake exposure, Calhoun County's hurricane risk at the 31th percentile nationally reinforces the value of maintaining a household emergency supply cache usable for multiple hazard scenarios. Building age matters for earthquake risk in Calhoun County: structures built before local seismic code adoption are statistically more vulnerable. Contacting the local building department about retrofit programs can reveal whether your structure qualifies for mitigation assistance.

Regional Context

Calhoun County falls 53.2 points below Arkansas's typical county risk level, making it one of the safer natural-hazard environments in the state.

Is your household prepared for Calhoun County's hazards?

Review FEMA's county-specific preparedness checklists and emergency planning guides.

FEMA Ready Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Calhoun County, AR?
Calhoun County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Very Low, placing it in the 2th percentile nationally out of 3,144 counties. This composite score reflects the county's overall exposure to natural hazards including floods, wildfires, tornadoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes, weighted by expected annual loss and social vulnerability.
What types of natural hazards affect Calhoun County?
Calhoun County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (53th percentile), hurricane (31th percentile), tornado (23th percentile), wildfire (8th percentile), flooding (7th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 53th percentile nationally. These scores are derived from FEMA's National Risk Index, which analyzes expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience for each hazard type.
How does Calhoun County risk compare to the Arkansas average?
Calhoun County's composite risk percentile is 2th, compared to the Arkansas state average of 56th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Calhoun County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Arkansas.
Is Calhoun County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Calhoun County's earthquake risk is at the 53th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Calhoun County is at the 7th percentile.
How is natural disaster risk measured?
FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) calculates risk scores for 18 natural hazard types across all U.S. counties and census tracts. The composite score combines Expected Annual Loss (estimated dollar losses from each hazard), Social Vulnerability (demographic factors affecting disaster impact), and Community Resilience (ability to recover). Percentile scores rank each county against all 3,144 U.S. counties, and risk ratings range from Very Low to Very High.
Is Calhoun County a safe place to live?
Calhoun County's composite risk score of 2th percentile is below the Arkansas state average of 56th percentile, indicating relatively lower exposure to natural hazards. However, no county is completely risk-free. The primary hazard type is earthquake at the 53th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Cleveland County

Arkansas

+7.2

Very Low

9th percentile

Dallas County

Arkansas

+7.8

Very Low

10th percentile

Grant County

Arkansas

+13.5

Very Low

16th percentile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Source

Risk data sourced from the FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Risk scores are relative rankings (0–100) across all US counties — not absolute risk measures. Higher scores indicate higher relative risk compared to other counties.

Disclaimer: This data is informational only. It is not financial, insurance, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making insurance or real estate decisions.

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