Union County, AR Environment & Hazard Risk

• Ice stormVery High$1.9M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.3 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively Moderate$1.4M/yr expected annual loss, about 19 events a year
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$882K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.9 events a year
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$930K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 406 years
• TornadoRelatively Moderate$1.8M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• LightningRelatively Moderate$292K/yr expected annual loss, about 65 events a year
• HurricaneRelatively Low$139K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 25 years
• HailRelatively Low$230K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.9 events a year
• LandslideVery Low$889/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3 years
• DroughtRelatively Low$21.6K/yr expected annual loss, about 25 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$20.4K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.7 events a year
• WildfireVery Low$8,848/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4,828 years
• Cold waveVery Low$176K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 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

72 of 14,245 (0.5%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

615

Insured in high-risk zones

57 (9%)

Flood claims since 1978

137

Claims paid since 1978

$2.1M

• Thunderstorm Wind171
• Hail120
• Flash Flood64
• Heat62
• Drought44
• Tornado27 · 2 deaths
• Winter Weather23
• Excessive Heat19
• Winter Storm12
• Cold/Wind Chill6

• Ice Storm12/13/2000

  Union

  $40M damage

  What happened

  An arctic air mass spilled southward out of the central plains and into the lower Mississippi Valley. This cold, surface air mass was overrun by a warm humid air mass which combined with a strong upper level storm system across west Texas. the result was widespread freezing rain across all of southwest Arkansas. The precipitation was a mixture of freezing rain, sleet and some light snow northwest of a Texarkana to Prescott Arkansas line while further east the precipitation was all freezing rain. Ice accumulations of two to four inches were common. An estimated 235,000 residents lost electrical power due to ice covered power lines snapping or ice covered trees splitting and falling across the lines. The was the worst storm in the history of the power companies suppling the power as far as damage but not total ice accumulations. A total of 29 transmission lines atop "H" shaped steel towers were snapped due to the weight of the ice. Numerous traffic accidents were also reported and many homes suffered damage from fallen trees and tree limbs. As a result, the Governor of Arkansas declared a State of Emergency for all of southwest Arkansas. Cleanup costs along reached...

• TornadoF3, 24 mi path, 900 yd wide01/13/2005

  Junction City, Union County

  2 deaths, 13 injured, $3M damage

  What happened

  The tornado that moved through Claiborne Parish Louisiana moved northeast into Union County Arkansas. The tornado first struck the community of Junction City, Arkansas just north of the Arkansas, Louisiana state line. From the area surveyed, the tornado was on the ground continuously from touchdown to end. For the early part of the track, the damage was confined to minor damage to homes with numerous trees downed from Junction City to near Tatum Rd approximately 8 miles south of El Dorado. In Junction City, two people were injured when a tree fell on their home as they were in bed. As the tornado approached Tatum Rd, it appears to have intensified significantly while growing wider in its destruction. It was through the area from Tatum Rd, across Hwy 7 and into the vicinity of Rushwood Rd that the storm did its greatest damage. Numerous homes, both mobile and well constructed frame homes were either destroyed or heavily damaged. A number of vehicles were rolled and tossed through the air, landing several yards from their initial location. It was in the area of Tatum Rd through Rushwood Rd that two fatalities occurred, both of them elderly residents. The majority of the...

• TornadoEF3, 26 mi path, 250 yd wide02/24/2007

  Junction City, Union County

  5 injured

  What happened

  A strong tornado developed under a supercell thunderstorm which moved northeast across the county. Damage was largely confined to heavily wooded areas with less than 20 structures sustaining damage. Six of these structures received heavy damage near the community of Strong, Arkansas. Numerous snapped and fallen large trees were also observed.|The extent of the damage ranged from shingles off some homes to others completely demolished. Of the 6 homes that were severly damaged...two were mobile homes. The tornado began in extreme southwest Union County near Junction City where a metal roof was blown off a pharmacy on Route 167. The tornado produced sporadic tree damage along Welloo and Welch roads. Moving northeast...the tornado downed additional trees across Caledonia and Iron Mountain roads. The tornado continued in a northeast direction...crossing Hwy 82 and intensified as it crossed Old Strong highway. Here a well build brick home was mostly demolished. The tornado traveled a half mile east and demolished a double wide trailer blowing the debris 150 to 200 yards downstream. Several other homes were affected from this storm before the storm lifted near the community of New...

• Flood10/12/2009

  Champagnolle, Union County

  $2M damage

  What happened

  Excessive heavy rainfall that fell during the middle and latter half of October resulted in very high river levels on the Ouachita River at Felsenthal, Arkansas. The river did not crest until the first part of November so the crest information will be included in the November publication of Storm Data. At the end of October, the river level at the Felsenthal Lock and Dam was near 83 feet which was some 13 feet above flood stage. Most of the communities residents had to move to higher ground as water was reported in as many as 15 homes with many city streets flooded and closed. Upwards of 14 homes in the Calion area were inundated by flood waters. Shelters were being setup to house the evacuated residents. Meals were provided by local chapters of the Red Cross. Most of the towns streets were inundated as well with water 5 foot deep across some roads. Travel by boat became necessary by the end of the month, especially in the Moro Bay areas. Union County, Arkansas was declared a Federal Disaster Area because of the extensive flooding and storm damage that occurred during the month of October.

• TornadoEF2, 10.31 mi path, 1,320 yd wide06/19/2023

  Wilmington Lndg, Union County

  $2M damage

  What happened

  During the evening hours on Sunday, June 18th, a strong thunderstorm developed about 12 miles to the northeast of El Dorado, Arkansas in Union County. Shortly after forming, the storm became severe and started to rotate. The storm went on to produce an EF-2 tornado, touching down near the Cypress Creek Oil Field to the north of Moro Bay Highway near Stowe Ditch Road. At this location, there were numerous trees either snapped or uprooted from winds around 80 to 85 mph. As the tornado tracked to the southeast towards Moro Bay Highway, it strengthened some which was evident from the more widespread tree damage. As it crossed Moro Bay Highway, it did not cause any major damage to structures despite there being some along the path. From there,|the road network became sparse, but some additional tree damage was observed along Feldmann Road to the southeast of Moro Bay Highway. ||From there, the tornado continued to track southeast, causing significant damage along Pigeon Hill Road. The tornado continued to strengthen as it moved toward New London Road. This is where the greatest destruction was observed as the tornado moved over|a chicken farm and five chicken coops. Three of the...

• Thunderstorm Wind70 kt wind02/11/1998

  El Dorado, Union County

  1 injured, $1M damage

  What happened

  Trees were toppled throughout the area with damage to many homes and businesses and powerlines. The Noalmark Broadcasting tower was blown down and a tree fell across a home totally demolishing it. Residents were evacuated after a nitric acid tank was blown down near the El Dorado Chemical Plant. The spill residue was contained and neutralized on-site. There was one injury reported when a man was trapped inside his car after a tree fell on it.

• El Dorado WaterworksServes 17,932 · Groundwater · Local government2 health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Smackover WaterworksServes 2,821 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Parkers Chapel Public WaterServes 2,391 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Wildwood Water AssociationServes 1,350 · Groundwater · Private1 health violation+1 monitoring or reporting
• Faircrest Water AssociationServes 1,329 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Old Union Public Water AuthorityServes 1,200 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+15 monitoring or reporting
• New Hope Water AssociationServes 1,136 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Strong WaterworksServes 1,131 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+9 monitoring or reporting