Natural hazards · Osceola

Osceola, AR natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Osceola comes from earthquakes, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. Flood insurance has paid 7 claims here since 2003. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Osceola?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Osceola to be higher than in 86% of U.S. communities, mostly from earthquakes.

Earthquakes70%Inland flooding12%Heat waves5%Everything else13%

By hazard

What Osceola faces

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

Earthquakes

70% of expected damage

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

Inland flooding

12% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 28% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Heat waves

5% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 76% of U.S. places

Recorded about 20 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesTornadoesHailIce stormsWinter weatherCold wavesWildfireLandslidesStrong windLightningDrought

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic 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 Osceola flood?

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

7paid claims since 2003

$354Kpaid to owners

0homes flooded more than once

20032026

Biggest named events

Late winter severe storms: 1 claim, $164

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Mississippi County.

Disasters that hit Osceola

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into OsceolaDeclared for Mississippi County only

2021

Severe Storms and Tornadoes

9 households applied for aid

2011

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated Flooding

79 households applied for aid $69K aid approved $149K to the City of Osceola for repairs

2009

Severe Winter Storm

$84K to the City of Osceola for repairs

2008

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

6 households applied for aid $89K aid approved

2008

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding

$24K to the City of Osceola for repairs

2000

Severe Winter Ice Storm

$54K to the City of Osceola for repairs

Mississippi County has had 16 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and tornadoes.

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. Osceola covers 2 census tracts, combined by population.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Osceola’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Osceola. 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 Osceola total about $9.6M 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.