riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Poinsett County Disaster Risk

Poinsett County, Arkansas

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

73th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#18

of 75 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

37th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Very Low

Higher than 37% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 7% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Moderate

Higher than 84% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively High

Higher than 95% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 44% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Poinsett County

Risk Verdict

Poinsett County shows a relatively low overall disaster risk profile, scoring in the 73th 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 Poinsett County, scoring in the 95th percentile nationally. It is followed by tornado risk at the 84th percentile. Additional hazards include hurricane (44th), flood (37th), wildfire (7th).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake risk as the top concern, Poinsett 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

Poinsett County is significantly riskier than the average county in Arkansas. Its composite risk score is 17 points higher than the state average, meaning residents face above-average exposure to natural hazards compared to their neighbors.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the natural disaster risk in Poinsett County, AR?
Poinsett County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 73th 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 Poinsett County?
Poinsett County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (95th percentile), tornado (84th percentile), hurricane (44th percentile), flooding (37th percentile), wildfire (7th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 95th 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 Poinsett County risk compare to the Arkansas average?
Poinsett County's composite risk percentile is 73th, compared to the Arkansas state average of 56th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Poinsett County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Arkansas.
Is Poinsett County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Poinsett County's earthquake risk is at the 95th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Poinsett County is at the 37th 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.
Why is Poinsett County higher risk than average?
Poinsett County's composite risk score of 73th percentile is above the Arkansas state average of 56th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by earthquake exposure (95th percentile), along with tornado risk. Geographic location, terrain, climate patterns, and proximity to flood zones or fault lines all influence a county's risk profile.

Counties with Similar Risk

Cleburne County

Arkansas

+0.2

Relatively Low

73th percentile

Baxter County

Arkansas

-0.2

Relatively Low

72th percentile

Clay County

Arkansas

-0.9

Relatively Low

72th 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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