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Natural hazards · Benton

Benton, AR natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Benton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 64 claims here since 1978. 9 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations
Expected damage

How exposed is Benton?

61
High
vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Benton to be higher than in 61% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and tornadoes.

Inland flooding42%Tornadoes18%Earthquakes14%Heat waves10%Everything else17%
By hazard

What Benton faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

42% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 61% of U.S. places
Recorded about 3 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

18% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Earthquakes

14% of expected damage
Well above average · higher than 79% of U.S. places

Heat waves

10% of expected damage
Above average · higher than 71% of U.S. places
Recorded about 18 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingDroughtAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.
Flood insurance claims

Does Benton flood?

Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Benton, from FEMA’s records.

64paid claims since 1978
$3.1Mpaid to owners
10homes flooded more than once
19782026

Biggest named events

  • Hurricane Beryl: 6 claims, $525K
  • Hurricane Gustav: 2 claims, $7K
  • Central U.S. April Flooding: 1 claim, $337K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (6) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured
of all homes
are insured
No community discount. Benton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Saline County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

50storm safe rooms built
8flood-prone properties bought out and cleared
Disasters that hit Benton

9 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Benton itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the City of Benton.

Brought FEMA money into BentonDeclared for Saline County only
2025

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

123 households applied for aid $332K aid approved $175K to the City of Benton for repairs
2017

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

105 households applied for aid $251K aid approved
2012

Severe Winter Storm

$257K to the City of Benton for repairs
2011

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated Flooding

35 households applied for aid $22K aid approved
2009

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$750 to the City of Benton for repairs
2008

Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Hurricane Gustav

$61K to the City of Benton for repairs
2008

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

4 households applied for aid $6K aid approved
2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

296 households applied for aid $986K aid approved $298K to the City of Benton for repairs
2000

Severe Winter Ice Storm

$697K to the City of Benton for repairs
Saline County has had 19 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and hurricanes.
Around Benton

Benton and the towns around it

Salem: High, mostly inland floodingBryant: Moderate, mostly inland floodingBauxite: High, mostly inland floodingAlexander: High, mostly inland floodingShannon Hills: Moderate, mostly inland floodingBenton: High, mostly inland flooding BentonSalemBryantBauxite
Very lowLowModerateHighVery high
Salemmostly inland floodingHigh
Bauxitemostly inland floodingHigh
Bentonmostly inland floodingHigh
Bryantmostly inland floodingModerate
About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.
Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Benton covers 7 census tracts, combined by population.
Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Benton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Benton. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

FEMA’s expected losses across Benton total about $10.1M a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.

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