Jackson County, AR Environment & Hazard Risk

• Ice stormVery High$1.5M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year
• EarthquakeRelatively Moderate$4.4M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 128 years
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$4.5M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
• DroughtRelatively Moderate$956K/yr expected annual loss, about 6.3 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively Low$587K/yr expected annual loss, about 15 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Low$881K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.4 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$405K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.2 events a year
• HurricaneVery Low$69.8K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 38 years
• LightningRelatively Low$161K/yr expected annual loss, about 58 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$38.4K/yr expected annual loss, about 6.4 events a year
• WildfireVery Low$21.3K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 942 years
• HailRelatively Low$119K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.8 events a year
• LandslideVery Low$137/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

136 of 7,206 (1.9%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

1,314

Insured in high-risk zones

119 (9%)

Flood claims since 1978

174

Claims paid since 1978

$3.1M

• Thunderstorm Wind152
• Hail91
• Flash Flood53
• Flood43 · 1 death
• Tornado39 · 3 deaths
• Winter Weather35
• Winter Storm23
• Drought12
• Heavy Rain11
• Ice Storm7

• TornadoF2, 23 mi path, 880 yd wide03/01/1997

  Jacksonport, Jackson County

  1 death, 30 injured, $25M damage

  What happened

  The tornado in Independence County moved back into Jackson County about 4 miles southwest of Jacksonport at 342 pm CST. The tornado moved northeastward into Jacksonport where there was a considerable loss of trees and damage to homes and businesses. One person was killed in a mobile home that was destroyed. A riverboat also suffered considerable damage when it was blown into a partially flooded area on the shoreline. As the tornado continued to move northeastward, it caused roof and structural damage to a number of buildings. A lot of trees were also blown down as well. The tornado crossed Highway 67 about a mile south of Tuckerman and skirted the southeast part of town. Several miles northeast of Tuckerman, on Highway 224, the tornado caused more damage to several homes. About 7 miles northeast of Tuckerman, there was quite a bit of tree damage. Some tops of trees were also removed, indicating that the tornado was aloft at times. The tornado downed more trees and power lines in the last 3 or 4 miles it was on the ground in Jackson County. The tornado exited Jackson County 5.5 miles east of Swifton at 413 pm CST. Damage along the path of the tornado was consistent...

• TornadoF2, 8.5 mi path, 1,056 yd wide03/01/1997

  Denmark, Jackson County

  2 deaths, 30 injured, $10M damage

  What happened

  The White County tornado moved into Jackson County 3 miles south of Denmark at 325 pm CST. As the tornado crossed Highway 167, 2 people were killed when a tree fell on them while they were taking shelter from the tornado in a ditch. Several mobile homes and some frame homes suffered partial roof removal as the tornado progressed across the county. The tornado exited Jackson County 7 miles northeast of Denmark at 331 pm CST. Damage along the path of the tornado was consistent with an F2 rating.

• Ice Storm01/26/2009

  Jackson

  $35M damage

  What happened

  The county's emergency manager reported 1/4 inch of freezing rain as of 10:00 AM on the 27th. Almost 100 percent electrical losses occurred in the county. Trees had to be removed from roads and homes throughout the county. Downed trees and power lines caused traffic delays on Arkansas Highway 18 near Grubbs.

• Lightning12/20/2007

  Diaz, Jackson County

  2 deaths, $150K damage

  What happened

  Lightning struck a house in the eastern part of Diaz. Apparently, the resulting fire smoldered for about two hours before the fire was noticed. Visibility was poor at the time, due to fog and continuous rain. By the time the fire alarm was turned in, flames were shooting well above the roof. The house was destroyed, and an elderly couple who lived there lost their lives. The fatalities were a male, 73, and a female, 70. A camping trailer and an all-terrain vehicle, which were parked near the house, were also damaged.

• Flood05/01/2011

  Swifton, Jackson County

  $11.5M damage

  What happened

  Parts of Arkansas Highways 14, 18, 37, 42, 69, 69S, 224, 226, and 384 were closed due to flooding. Jacksonport and areas to the north of town were evacuated; Jacksonport State Park was closed. Flooding in Jackson County continued into June.

• Heat08/01/2012

  Jackson

  1 death

  What happened

  Most of Arkansas was under extreme or exceptional drought as August began. Unusual heat also continued into the beginning of the month. From the 1st through the 5th, high temperatures were 100 degrees or higher at many reporting stations. The highest temperatures during this time frame were 108 at Cabot and Silver Hill; 107 at Russellville, Conway, Booneville forestry station, and Oden; 106 at Little Rock, DeGray Lake State Park, Dardanelle, Subiaco, Morrilton, Leola, Malvern, Nimrod Dam, and Jessieville. After the first few days of the month, the high pressure aloft that had caused hot weather throughout July shifted to the west. This allowed at least some scattered showers and thunderstorms from time to time, and heat indices gradually dropped below 105 in most areas. On the 3rd, a 16 month-old girl died in a hot car in Newport (Jackson Co.). According to police reports, the father was supposed to drop the baby off at daycare but forgot to do so. Thus, the baby remained in the car all day and was not discovered in the car until late afternoon. The high temperature at Newport that day reached 96 degrees and the heat index reached 106. The father was arrested at the scene and...

• Cross County Rural Water SysServes 8,750 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Newport WaterworksServes 6,204 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Independence Jackson RegionalServes 2,922 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+2 monitoring or reporting
• Bald Knob North Water AssocServes 2,610 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Tuckerman WaterworksServes 1,817 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Breckenridge Union Water AssocServes 1,225 · Groundwater · Local government2 health violations+7 monitoring or reporting
• Diaz WaterworksServes 1,215 · Purchased groundwater · Local government1 health violation+1 monitoring or reporting
• Swifton WaterworksServes 1,013 · Groundwater · Local government4 health violations