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

Randolph County Disaster Risk

Randolph County, Arkansas

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

67th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#27

of 75 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

46th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 46% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Very Low

Higher than 40% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 78% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Moderate

Higher than 92% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 49% of US counties

Risk Overview

About Natural Disaster Risk in Randolph County, Arkansas

Randolph County above average

Randolph County's composite risk score of 66.98 exceeds the national average and carries a Relatively Low rating overall. The score reflects significant exposure to certain hazards, particularly earthquakes and tornadoes.

Moderate risk for Arkansas

At 66.98, Randolph County ranks above Arkansas's state average of 55.51, placing it in the riskier half of state counties. However, it remains well below Pulaski County's extreme exposure.

Higher risk in northeast cluster

Randolph County (66.98) exceeds Prairie County (41.38) but trails Pulaski County (96.79) and Saline County (77.64). Your northeastern Arkansas location puts you between safer western counties and the state's highest-risk urban center.

Earthquakes and tornadoes dominate

Earthquake risk reaches 92.40, the county's critical vulnerability, while tornado risk (77.80) presents significant spring threat. Flood risk (45.52) and wildfire risk (40.04) are notably lower, giving you some relief on those fronts.

Earthquake and storm protection

Prioritize earthquake coverage in your homeowners policy and secure all furniture and appliances to walls to prevent collapse during shaking. Establish a tornado safety plan with a designated shelter area, and consider a weather radio that alerts you to both earthquake and severe weather warnings.

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

Preparedness Guide

What to Prepare for in Randolph County

Top Hazards by Exposure

  1. #1
    EarthquakePrepare
    92th percentile
  2. #2
    TornadoPrepare
    78th percentile
  3. #3
    HurricanePrepare
    49th percentile

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

Risk Advisory: Randolph County

Risk Verdict

Randolph County's FEMA risk score places it at the 67th percentile nationally, indicating lower-than-typical exposure for a U.S. county. A moderate composite score often means one or two hazard categories are doing the heavy lifting — knowing which ones matters for preparation.

Hazard Breakdown

Earthquake risk is Randolph County's dominant natural hazard, ranked at the 92th percentile nationally under FEMA's National Risk Index. Tornado ranks second at the 78th percentile nationally. Additional tracked hazards include hurricane (49th percentile), flood (46th percentile), wildfire (40th percentile).

Preparedness Context

With earthquake ranked as the top hazard at the 92th percentile nationally, Randolph County residents benefit from reviewing homeowners insurance: standard policies rarely cover earthquake damage, and separate earthquake insurance must be purchased before an event. Alongside earthquake exposure, Randolph County's tornado risk at the 78th percentile nationally reinforces the value of maintaining a household emergency supply cache usable for multiple hazard scenarios. Earthquake insurance in Randolph County is typically offered as a separate policy — standard homeowners coverage excludes ground movement. Reviewing this gap and comparing policy options before an event is a financial preparedness step with potentially large consequences.

Regional Context

The Arkansas county average is 11.5 composite points below Randolph County's score, a gap that reflects the county's elevated position in the state's hazard distribution.

Is your household prepared for Randolph 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 Randolph County, AR?
Randolph County has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Low, placing it in the 67th 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 Randolph County?
Randolph County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: earthquake (92th percentile), tornado (78th percentile), hurricane (49th percentile), flooding (46th percentile), wildfire (40th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is earthquake at the 92th 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 Randolph County risk compare to the Arkansas average?
Randolph County's composite risk percentile is 67th, compared to the Arkansas state average of 56th percentile. The state's overall risk rating is Relatively Low. This means Randolph County faces higher natural disaster risk than the typical county in Arkansas.
Is Randolph County at risk for earthquake?
Yes, Randolph County's earthquake risk is at the 92th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Randolph County is at the 46th 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 Randolph County higher risk than average?
Randolph County's composite risk score of 67th percentile is above the Arkansas state average of 56th percentile. This elevated risk is driven by earthquake exposure (92th 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.
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.