Natural Disasters in Searcy, AR

Hazard risk, disaster history, and FEMA data

Natural Hazard Risk

Source: FEMA National Risk Index

Risk Score

85.7

Relatively Moderate

Expected Annual Loss

84.1

Score (0-100)

Social Vulnerability

55.2

Score (0-100)

Community Resilience

37.0

Score (0-100)

Top Hazard Risks

Ice Storm98.1Earthquake96.0Tornado91.9

Hazard	Risk Score
Ice Storm	98.1
Earthquake	96.0
Tornado	91.9
Strong Wind	90.4
Heat Wave	88.4
Winter Weather	80.6
Wildfire	79.4
Lightning	74.2
Hail	71.0
Drought	69.7
Hurricane	54.6
Landslide	50.3
Cold Wave	48.0

Scores range from 0 (lowest risk) to 100 (highest risk) relative to all U.S. communities. Data from FEMA National Risk Index.

Disaster Declarations

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA

Total Declarations

Most Recent

Winter Storm

Jan 2026

Most Common Type

Severe Storm

14 declarations

Date	Type	Declaration
Jan 24, 2026	Winter Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
May 21, 2025	Flood	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Apr 5, 2025	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Aug 27, 2020	Hurricane	HURRICANE LAURA
Apr 3, 2020	Biological	COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	COVID-19
Jun 15, 2017	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Feb 5, 2016	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS, AND FLOODING
Apr 29, 2014	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS,TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
May 2, 2011	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND ASSOCIATED FLOODING
Feb 4, 2010	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Dec 3, 2009	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Jan 28, 2009	Severe Ice Storm	SEVERE WINTER STORM
Mar 26, 2008	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Apr 12, 2006	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND TORNADOES
Sep 2, 2005	Hurricane	HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION
Jun 6, 2003	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES, AND FLOODING
Jan 6, 2003	Severe Ice Storm	SEVERE ICE STORM
Jan 24, 2002	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING
Mar 13, 2001	Severe Storm	SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING

Showing 20 of 29 declarations

Flood Insurance (NFIP)

Source: FEMA NFIP

Total Claims

134

Total Claims Paid

$3,033,727

Avg Claim Payout

$22,640

County-level NFIP data from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.

Disaster Recovery Spending

Source: FEMA Public Assistance

Total Federal Spending

$1,306,058

Disasters with PA

Total Projects

162

Disaster	Type	Projects	Federal $
DR-1975	Severe Storm(s)	52	$589,424
DR-4318	Severe Storm(s)	8	$246,410
DR-4254	Severe Storm(s)	10	$133,536
DR-1751	Severe Storm(s)	39	$126,884
DR-1861	Severe Storm(s)	37	$80,049
DR-4174	Severe Storm(s)	2	$58,434
DR-4124	Severe Storm(s)	2	$41,426
DR-1872	Severe Storm(s)	11	$27,900
DR-1354	Severe Ice Storm	1	$1,994

Hazard Mitigation

Source: FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Projects

Federal Funding

$7,337,073

Properties Protected

Avg Benefit-Cost Ratio

1.77

BCR

Top Mitigation Project Types

Project Type	Projects	Federal $
206.2: Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind Shelter) - Public Structures	10	$6,781,219
91.1: Local Multihazard Mitigation Plan	3	$78,188
600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan)	1	$28,794
100.1: Public Awareness and Education (Brochures, Workshops, Videos, etc.); 600.1: Warning Systems (as a Component of a Planned, Adopted, and Exercised Risk Reduction Plan); 601.1: Generators; 700.1: Management Costs - Salaries	1	$448,872

Federally funded projects to reduce future disaster risk. Only includes completed or obligated projects.

Searcy has a relatively moderate overall natural hazard risk rating according to FEMA's National Risk Index. The top hazard risks are ice storm, earthquake, tornado. The area has had 29 federal disaster declarations. The most common disaster type is severe storm (14 declarations). 134 flood insurance claims have been filed in the area. FEMA has obligated $1,306,058 in public assistance recovery funding. 15 hazard mitigation projects have been funded to reduce future risk.