riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Howard County Disaster Risk

Howard County, Arkansas

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

49th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#47

of 75 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

52th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 52% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 46% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 54% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 63% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 57% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Howard County

Risk Verdict

Howard County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 49th percentile nationally. The county faces moderate hazard exposure relative to other U.S. counties. Standard emergency preparedness is recommended, with attention to the specific hazards that dominate locally.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is the dominant hazard for Howard County, scoring in the 63th percentile nationally. It is followed by hurricane risk at the 57th percentile. Additional hazards include tornado (54th), flood (52th), wildfire (46th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Howard County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as hurricane also warrant attention in household and community preparedness planning. FEMA recommends all households maintain at least 72 hours of food, water, and medication supplies regardless of specific hazard exposure.

Regional Context

Howard County is notably safer than the average county in Arkansas. Its composite risk score is 7 points lower than the state average, indicating below-average exposure to natural hazards relative to other counties in the state.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Howard County, AR?
Howard County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 49th 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 Howard County?
Howard County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (63th percentile), hurricane (57th percentile), tornado (54th percentile), flooding (52th percentile), wildfire (46th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 63th 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 Howard County risk compare to the Arkansas average?
Howard County's composite risk percentile is 49th, compared to the Arkansas state average of 56th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Howard County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Arkansas.
Is Howard County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Howard County's earthquake risk is at the 63th percentile nationally. This is above the national median. For flooding specifically, Howard County is at the 52th 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 Howard County a safe place to live?
Howard County's composite risk score of 49th 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 63th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Logan County

Arkansas

-0.3

Relatively Low

48th percentile

Marion County

Arkansas

-0.5

Relatively Low

48th percentile

Franklin County

Arkansas

+0.9

Relatively Low

49th percentile

By Logan Johnson, Founder & Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Logan Johnson, Founder & 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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