riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Ouachita County Disaster Risk

Ouachita County, Arkansas

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

51th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#42

of 75 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

53th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 53% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 28% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 70% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 80% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 56% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Ouachita County

Risk Verdict

Ouachita County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 51th 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 Ouachita County, scoring in the 80th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 70th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (56th), flood (53th), wildfire (28th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Ouachita County residents should secure heavy furniture and appliances, know how to shut off utilities, and keep emergency supplies accessible. Secondary risks such as tornado 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

Ouachita County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Arkansas. Its composite risk score is within 4.3 points of the state average, meaning its overall hazard exposure is broadly representative of Arkansas as a whole.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Ouachita County, AR?
Ouachita County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 51th 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 Ouachita County?
Ouachita County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (80th percentile), tornado (70th percentile), hurricane (56th percentile), flooding (53th percentile), wildfire (28th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 80th 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 Ouachita County risk compare to the Arkansas average?
Ouachita County's composite risk percentile is 51th, compared to the Arkansas state average of 56th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Ouachita County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Arkansas.
Is Ouachita County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Ouachita County's earthquake risk is at the 80th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Ouachita County is at the 53th 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 Ouachita County a safe place to live?
Ouachita County's composite risk score of 51th 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 80th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Fulton County

Arkansas

-0.5

Relatively Low

51th percentile

Van Buren County

Arkansas

-0.6

Relatively Low

51th percentile

Hempstead County

Arkansas

+0.9

Relatively Low

52th 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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