Van Buren, AR

Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data

Population: 24,396 · Part of Crawford County

Van Buren is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk — lower risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Crawford County, AR. The county's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, heat wave, and wildfire.

Storm events near Van Buren

NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Van Buren's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Van Buren itself, not the whole county.

Tornado 56 events
Hail 168 events
Inland Flooding 99 events

County-wide hazard risk

Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Crawford County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Van Buren along with the rest of the county, not a Van Buren-specific figure.

Hazard NRI score Rating
Wildfire 91.1 Relatively Moderate
Inland Flooding 70.6 Relatively Low
Coastal Flooding Not Applicable
Earthquake 66.6 Relatively Low
Heat Wave 93.4 Relatively Moderate
Tornado 81.4 Relatively Moderate
Avalanche Not Applicable
Cold Wave 64.1 Relatively Low
Drought 69 Relatively Moderate
Hail 63.3 Relatively Low
Hurricane 43.4 Very Low
Ice Storm 95 Relatively High
Landslide 88.6 Relatively Moderate
Lightning 77.9 Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind 41.7 Relatively Low
Tsunami Not Applicable
Volcanic Activity Not Applicable
Winter Weather 79.9 Relatively Moderate

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Crawford County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.

More on Crawford County:

Frequently asked questions

What natural hazards is Van Buren, AR at risk of?

Van Buren is rated Relatively Low for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — lower risk than most US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Crawford County, where Van Buren is located, are ice storm, heat wave, and wildfire.

What is Van Buren's biggest natural hazard risk?

Ice Storm is the highest-rated hazard for Crawford County, where Van Buren is located, scoring 95 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").

Is Van Buren a high-risk area for natural disasters?

No — Van Buren carries lower risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Low" for Crawford County.

Has Van Buren had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?

NOAA has recorded 56 tornado, 168 hail, 99 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Van Buren since 2016.