Cleveland County

Arkansas — Natural Disaster Risk Assessment

Very Low

Composite Risk Score

9.5

National percentile: 9th

Cleveland County faces very low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 9.5, 9th national percentile), driven primarily by ice storm and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $3M.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025

Expected Annual Loss $3M Annualized county-level EAL
Social Vulnerability Very High Population sensitivity
Community Resilience Very Low Capacity to recover
Population 8K Latest estimate

Top Hazards

Ice Storm
Medium $178K/yr
Earthquake
Low $335K/yr
Heat Wave
Low $262K/yr

All 18 Hazard Risks

Ice Storm Medium 1.07 / yr $178K
Earthquake Low 0.00 / yr $335K
Heat Wave Low 19.47 / yr $262K
Hurricane Very Low 0.02 / yr $51K
Hail Low 3.81 / yr $113K
Tornado Low 0.39 / yr $548K
Strong Wind Low 2.63 / yr $222K
Lightning Low 63.12 / yr $59K
Wildfire Very Low 0.00 / yr $7K
Drought Very Low 8.47 / yr $2K
Winter Weather Very Low 3.84 / yr $10K
Riverine Flood Very Low 1.21 / yr $1M
Landslide Very Low 0.14 / yr $18
Cold Wave Very Low 0.53 / yr $26K
Avalanche Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Coastal Flood Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Tsunami Very Low 0.00 / yr $0
Volcanic Activity Very Low 0.00 / yr $0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall natural disaster risk for Cleveland County?

Cleveland County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 9.5 out of 100, placing it in the Very Low category and the 9th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.

What are the top natural hazards in Cleveland County?

The three highest-rated hazards are Ice Storm (Medium, $178K EAL), Earthquake (Low, $335K EAL), Heat Wave (Low, $262K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.

How does Cleveland County compare to other Arkansas counties?

Cleveland County ranks #74 of 75 Arkansas counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a very low rating.

What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?

EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Cleveland County's $3M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.