Hot Spring County, AR
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Hot Spring County has experienced 20 federally declared disasters since 1983, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Hot Spring County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, lightning, and strong wind, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 17% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Hot Spring County has been designated in 20 declarations since 1983, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (8), severe ice storm (3), hurricane (3).
| Year | Type | Event name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| 2025 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Laura |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2011 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Associated Flooding |
| 2009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 20 total declarations since 1983.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. A single disaster can produce more than one record per county. Data current through September 2026.
Risk by hazard type
| Hazard | Risk rating | Risk score | Recorded events | Deaths | Prop. damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Very Low | 55.2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Relatively Low | 58.6 | 15 | 0 | $10K |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 76.5 | 1 | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 77.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 68.3 | 4 | 0 | — |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 53.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | 78.6 | 24 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | 81.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 55.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 93.3 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 14.7 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively High | 86 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Very Low | 26.5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | 62.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Avalanche | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Tsunami | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
| Volcanic Activity | Not Applicable | — | — | — | — |
Scores are 0–100 percentiles relative to all US counties — higher means more exposed, not that a disaster is likely this year. Event counts: NOAA Storm Events 2016–2026; earthquake counts from USGS ComCat (M3.0+, 1996–2026). See the methodology page for details.
Community vulnerability
Hot Spring County ranks in the 64th percentile (Moderate) for community vulnerability — a measure of how hard disaster impacts tend to hit residents. Higher vulnerability means more displacement, worse health outcomes, and slower recovery after a disaster.
| SVI theme | Percentile | Vulnerability level |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 64th | Moderate |
| Socioeconomic status | 53rd | Moderate |
| Household characteristics | 45th | Low |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 50th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 87th | High |
Source: CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2022. Percentiles compare counties nationally — higher means more vulnerable relative to other counties. See CDC SVI for full methodology.
Future risk outlook
| Wildfire metric | National percentile | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Burn probability | 57th | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk to homes | 54th | Relatively Moderate |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 79.9% | — |
NOAA tracked 42 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 23 in 2016–20 vs 19 in 2021–25 (-17% — frequency decreasing).
Wildfire: USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (RDS-2020-0016-2) — modeled values, not annual forecasts. See wildfirerisk.org. Inland flood and heat projections pending data availability; coastal sea-level projections are available for select coastal counties below — see the data page.
Nearby counties
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards pose the greatest risk in Hot Spring County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Hot Spring County, Arkansas are ice storm, lightning, and strong wind. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Relatively Low — lower risk than most US counties.
Has Hot Spring County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Hot Spring County has received 20 federal disaster declarations since 1983, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (8 declarations).
Has Hot Spring County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Hot Spring County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2025), Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2025), Severe Storms And Tornadoes (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1983.
How does Hot Spring County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, Garland County, AR has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Dallas County, AR has the lowest (Very Low). Hot Spring County is rated Relatively Low overall.
How is Hot Spring County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Hot Spring County's composite disaster risk index — officially FEMA's National Risk Index (NRI) — scores every US county on a 0–100 percentile scale across 18 natural hazard types, factoring in expected annual loss, social vulnerability, and community resilience. Hot Spring County's composite score of 56 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 56% of US counties.