Mountain Home Commercial Historic District · Photo: JenBaker1951 · CC BY-SA 3.0For ice storms, Mountain Home’s building-damage rate is in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mountain Home gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns, #26 of 123 in Arkansas. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (43%), then ice storms (22%). Flood insurance has paid 21 claims here since 1985.
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 Mountain Home’s natural hazards
From FEMA’s model and FEMA’s records, below.
What Mountain Home faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Ice storms
Earthquakes
Tornadoes
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 Mountain Home’s grade
River and rain flooding is 43% of the building damage FEMA expects in Mountain Home, and Mountain Home’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 22%, at a rate in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #26 of 123 in Arkansas; higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns (21,298).
Mountain Home’s residents live in 6 census tracts; FEMA’s figures are combined by where they live.
The typical Arkansas town has higher expected damage than 73% of U.S. towns; within the state, Mountain Home has less expected damage per building than 80% of Arkansas towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $6.4M a year in losses across Mountain Home: $3.8M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Mountain Home flood? Sometimes: 21 flood claims since 1985
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Mountain Home, from FEMA’s records: 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
- The Late spring severe storms1 claim · $3K
Mountain Home isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Baxter County.5 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Mountain Home
Disasters that paid out in Mountain Home itself (aid to households or repair grants to the City of Mountain Home), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding332 households applied for aid$615K aid approved$111K to the City of Mountain Home for repairs
- 2009Severe Winter Storm$934K to the City of Mountain Home for repairs
- 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding49 households applied for aid$98K aid approved
- 2002Severe Ice Storm$9K to the City of Mountain Home for repairs
- 2000Severe Winter Ice Storm$68K to the City of Mountain Home for repairs
Baxter County has had 17 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 Mountain Home after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Mountain Home archive →Get ready for what Mountain Home faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- 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.
- Ice brings down trees and lines: plan for days without power.
- Run a generator outside, far from doors and windows.
- Keep sand or salt by the door.
- Drop, cover and hold on.
- Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
- Know how to shut off the gas.
- Pick your spot now: the lowest floor, an inside room, no windows.
- A watch means be ready; a warning means take cover now.
- Keep shoes and a flashlight by the bed.
- 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 Mountain Home
Is Mountain Home at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Mountain Home has higher expected damage per building than 56% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #26 of 123 in Arkansas. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (43%) and ice storms (22%). This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Mountain Home flood?
Flood insurance has paid 21 claims in Mountain Home since 1985, $122K in all, or 3.1 per 1,000 homes, fewer than 51% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 1 properties have flooded more than once. The most claims came from Late spring severe storms (1).
Is Mountain Home 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 Baxter County, 7% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.3% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Mountain Home?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Mountain Home’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 Mountain Home?
By FEMA money that reached Mountain Home, Severe Winter Storm (2009): $934K to the City of Mountain Home for repairs. By flood claims, Late spring severe storms: 1 paid, $3K.
Is Mountain Home at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (43%), and Mountain Home’s rate for it is lower than 72% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Mountain Home.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Mountain Home’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.