riskbycounty
FEMA National Risk Index

Van Buren County Disaster Risk

Van Buren County, Arkansas

FEMA Risk Rating

Relatively Low

National Percentile

51th

of 3,144 counties

State Rank

#44

of 75 (1 = highest risk)

Flood Risk

48th

percentile

Hazard Risk Breakdown

Flood

River, coastal, and surface flooding risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 48% of US counties

Wildfire

Wildland and wildland-urban interface fire risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 75% of US counties

Tornado

Tornado and severe thunderstorm risk

Moderate

Higher than 83% of US counties

Earthquake

Seismic activity and ground shaking risk

Relatively Low

Higher than 77% of US counties

Hurricane

Tropical cyclone and hurricane risk

Very Low

Higher than 36% of US counties

Risk Advisory: Van Buren County

Risk Verdict

Van Buren 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

Tornado risk is the dominant hazard for Van Buren County, scoring in the 83th percentile nationally. It is followed by earthquake risk at the 77th percentile. Additional hazards include wildfire (75th), flood (48th), hurricane (36th).

Preparedness Context

With tornado risk as the top concern, Van Buren County residents should identify a safe room or interior space on the lowest floor, have a NOAA weather radio, and practice tornado drills with your household. Secondary risks such as earthquake 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

Van Buren County has a disaster risk profile close to the average county in Arkansas. Its composite risk score is within 4.9 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 Van Buren County, AR?
Van Buren 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 Van Buren County?
Van Buren County is evaluated for five major natural hazard types: tornado (83th percentile), earthquake (77th percentile), wildfire (75th percentile), flooding (48th percentile), hurricane (36th percentile). The highest-risk hazard is tornado at the 83th 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 Van Buren County risk compare to the Arkansas average?
Van Buren 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 Van Buren County faces lower natural disaster risk than the typical county in Arkansas.
Is Van Buren County at risk for tornado?
Yes, Van Buren County's tornado risk is at the 83th percentile nationally. This places it in the top quartile for this hazard type. For flooding specifically, Van Buren County is at the 48th 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 Van Buren County a safe place to live?
Van Buren 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 tornado at the 83th percentile. Residents should still maintain emergency preparedness plans and appropriate insurance coverage.

Counties with Similar Risk

Fulton County

Arkansas

+0.1

Relatively Low

51th percentile

Ouachita County

Arkansas

+0.6

Relatively Low

51th percentile

Stone County

Arkansas

-0.7

Relatively Low

50th 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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