FEMA Flood Zone Lookup in Arkansas

Arkansas faces substantial flood risk from its extensive river system, which includes portions of the Mississippi, Arkansas, White, and Ouachita river basins. The Arkansas River runs the full length of the state, and its floodplain encompasses Little Rock, North Little Rock, Fort Smith, and Pine Bluff. In 2019, historic flooding along the Arkansas River caused over $2 billion in damage with levee overtopping and failures in multiple locations. The White River basin in northeastern Arkansas is one of the most flood-prone regions in the Mid-South, with communities like Newport and Batesville experiencing repeated inundation. West Memphis and Crittenden County along the Mississippi River have historically severe flood exposure. The state has over 400 miles of federally maintained levees along the Mississippi River alone. Flash flooding is a growing concern in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas, where steep terrain accelerates runoff. Bentonville and the fast-growing Northwest Arkansas corridor face increasing urban flood risk as development expands into formerly rural drainage areas. Arkansas has over 900 NFIP-participating communities, one of the highest counts in the nation.