Earle High School, Old · Photo: Kdwaits · CC BY-SA 4.0More hazard damage per building is expected in Earle than in 86% of U.S. towns, mostly from earthquakes
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Earle gets a D for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns. Most of that expected damage is earthquakes (62%), then river and rain flooding (28%). Flood insurance has paid 28 claims here since 1987.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What stands out about Earle’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Earle faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
Earthquakes
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Earle’s grade
Earthquakes are 62% of the building damage FEMA expects in Earle, and Earle’s rate of earthquakes damage is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 4%, at a rate in the top 3% of U.S. census tracts.
D higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Earle’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.6M a year in losses across Earle: $761K to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Earle flood? Sometimes: 28 flood claims since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Earle, from FEMA’s records: 31.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Central U.S. April Flooding4 claims · $179K
- The Mid-spring storms4 claims · $73K
Earle isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Crittenden County.6 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Earle
Disasters that paid out in Earle itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Earle), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding227 households applied for aid$1.5M aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2023Severe Storms and Tornadoes1 households applied for aid$462 aid approved
- 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated Flooding62 households applied for aid$86K aid approved4 flood claims paid that year
- 2008Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes167 households applied for aid$338K aid approved$61K to the City of Earle for repairs
- 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding122 households applied for aid$545K aid approved12 flood claims paid that year
- 2000Severe Winter Ice Storm$28K to the City of Earle for repairs
Crittenden County has had 16 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Earle after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Earle archive →Get ready for what Earle faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Earle
Is Earle at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Earle has higher expected damage per building than 86% of U.S. towns: D for hazard risk. Most of the expected damage is earthquakes (62%) and river and rain flooding (28%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Earle flood?
Flood insurance has paid 28 claims in Earle since 1987, $480K in all, or 31.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 89% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Central U.S. April Flooding (4).
Is Earle in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Crittenden County, 20% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Earle?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Earle’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Earle?
By FEMA money that reached Earle, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (2025): 227 households applied for aid, $1.5M approved. By flood claims, Central U.S. April Flooding: 4 paid, $179K.
Is Earle at risk from earthquakes?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (62%), and Earle’s rate for it is in the top 6% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Earle.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Earle’s residents lived in the 2020 census; 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. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.