Natural hazards · Charleston

Charleston, AR natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Charleston comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 8 claims here since 1999. 5 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Charleston?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Charleston to be higher than in 42% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and heat waves.

Inland flooding35%Heat waves20%Tornadoes16%Ice storms7%Cold waves6%Everything else17%

By hazard

What Charleston faces

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

Inland flooding

35% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 42% of U.S. places

Recorded about 2 times a year in the area

Heat waves

20% of expected damage

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

Recorded about 24 times a year in the area

Tornadoes

16% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 72% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 40 years in the area

Ice storms

7% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 98% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Cold waves

6% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 68% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesHailWinter weatherWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong 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 Charleston flood?

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

8paid claims since 1999

$39Kpaid to owners

2homes flooded more than once

19992026

Biggest named events

Spring storm: 1 claim, $3K

Homes that flooded again and again

■ FEMA “severe repetitive loss” (0) ■ flooded 2+ times

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Charleston isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Franklin County.

What’s been done with FEMA grants

9storm safe rooms built

Disasters that hit Charleston

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into CharlestonDeclared for Franklin County only

2015

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

$4K to the City of Charleston for repairs

2013

Severe Winter Storm

$23K to the City of Charleston for repairs

2011

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

1 household applied for aid

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

17 households applied for aid $7K aid approved

2000

Severe Winter Ice Storm

$8K to the City of Charleston for repairs

Franklin County has had 20 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

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. Charleston is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Charleston’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Charleston. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

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.

Charleston, AR natural hazards

How exposed is Charleston?

What Charleston faces

Inland flooding

Heat waves

Tornadoes

Ice storms

Cold waves

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Charleston flood?

Biggest named events

Homes that flooded again and again

What’s been done with FEMA grants

5 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Severe Winter Storm

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

Severe Winter Ice Storm

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

Matches

Nearby