Natural hazards · Washington

Washington, AR natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Washington comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is moderate for a U.S. community. 3 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

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

Expected damage

How exposed is Washington?

Moderate

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Washington to be higher than in 57% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding and ice storms.

Inland flooding37%Ice storms17%Tornadoes15%Hail10%Strong wind5%Everything else17%

By hazard

What Washington faces

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

Inland flooding

37% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 25% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Ice storms

17% of expected damage

Well above average · among the top 1% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 3 years in the area

Tornadoes

15% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 89% of U.S. places

Recorded about once every 8 years in the area

Hail

10% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 94% of U.S. places

Recorded about 5 times a year in the area

Strong wind

5% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 92% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

HurricanesWinter weatherCold wavesHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesLightningDrought

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 Washington flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Washington.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

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

Insurance rates: Hempstead County.

Disasters that hit Washington

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

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

Brought FEMA money into WashingtonDeclared for Hempstead County only

2009

Severe Storms and Flooding

$26K to the City of Washington for repairs

2004

Severe Storms and Flooding

$22K to the City of Washington for repairs

2000

Severe Winter Ice Storm

$138K to the City of Washington for repairs

Hempstead County has had 22 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. Washington 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 Washington’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the City of Washington. 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.

Washington, AR natural hazards

How exposed is Washington?

What Washington faces

Inland flooding

Ice storms

Tornadoes

Hail

Strong wind

Lower here

Not a risk here

Does Washington flood?

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Severe Storms and Flooding

Severe Storms and Flooding

Severe Winter Ice Storm

How to read this page

Where to, neighbor?

Matches

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