Woodruff County, AR
FEMA National Risk Index scores, disaster declarations & hazard data
Woodruff County has experienced 28 federally declared disasters since 1969, most recently Severe Winter Storm in 2026. Its overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Woodruff County's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, earthquake, and drought, with its top risk rated "Relatively High" by FEMA's National Risk Index. Recorded storm events have decreased 27% over the past five years compared to the prior five-year period. Community vulnerability is elevated (77th percentile nationally), suggesting residents may face greater difficulty recovering from major disasters.
Past disasters & FEMA designations
A federal disaster declaration officially designates a county for FEMA disaster assistance. Woodruff County has been designated in 28 declarations since 1969, covering 7 disaster types including severe storm (13), flood (4), tornado (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 |
| 2022 | Tornado | Severe Storms And Tornadoes |
| 2020 | Hurricane | Hurricane Laura |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2016 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| 2013 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 28 total declarations since 1969.
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 | 11.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Inland Flooding | Very Low | 34.5 | 226 | 0 | — |
| Coastal Flooding | Not Applicable | — | 0 | 0 | — |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | 87.9 | — | — | — |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | 46.9 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | 65.7 | 3 | 0 | $525K |
| Hurricane | Very Low | 49.8 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Hail | Relatively Low | 38.5 | 1 | 0 | — |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | 30.3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | 26.6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | 88.4 | — | — | — |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | 14.9 | — | — | — |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | 24.1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | 87.4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Landslide | Very Low | 15 | 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
Woodruff County ranks in the 77th percentile (High) 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 | 77th | High |
| Socioeconomic status | 79th | High |
| Household characteristics | 68th | Moderate |
| Racial & ethnic minority status | 68th | Moderate |
| Housing type & transportation | 63rd | Moderate |
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 | 39th | Relatively Low |
| Risk to homes | 38th | Relatively Low |
| Buildings in direct exposure zone | 42.7% | — |
NOAA tracked 228 weather events in this county over 2016–2025: 132 in 2016–20 vs 96 in 2021–25 (-27% — 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 Woodruff County?
According to the FEMA National Risk Index, the highest-risk hazards in Woodruff County, Arkansas are ice storm, earthquake, and drought. The county's overall natural hazard risk is rated Very Low — among the lowest-risk counties in the country.
Has Woodruff County received federal disaster declarations?
Yes. Woodruff County has received 28 federal disaster declarations since 1969, including declarations in 2026. The most common disaster type on record is severe storm (13 declarations).
Has Woodruff County had any FEMA disaster declarations in 2024, 2025, or 2026?
Yes. Recent federal disaster declarations for Woodruff County include Severe Winter Storm (2026), Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2025), Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (2025). See the declarations table above for the full history since 1969.
How does Woodruff County's natural hazard risk compare to nearby counties?
Among neighboring counties, White County, AR has the highest overall natural hazard risk (Relatively Moderate) and Monroe County, AR has the lowest (Very Low). Woodruff County is rated Very Low overall.
How is Woodruff County's composite disaster risk index calculated?
Woodruff 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. Woodruff County's composite score of 42 means its overall natural hazard risk is higher than 42% of US counties.