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Sam A. Baker State Park Historic DistrictSam A. Baker State Park Historic District · Photo: Kbh3rd · CC BY-SA 3.0
–Not graded
Natural hazards in Des Arc · FEMA

Storms, floods and disasters in Des Arc

Des Arc isn’t graded for hazard risk: Des Arc has 181 residents; we grade towns of 1,000 or more. Flood insurance has paid 1 claim here since 2025.

Flood claims
1
paid since 2025 · $22K
Disasters paid out here
3
of 22 declared for Iron County
By hazard

What Des Arc 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

87%of expected building damage
Well above average · in the top 1% of U.S. census tracts
Recorded about once a year in the area

Earthquakes

6%of expected building damage
Well above average · higher than 82% of U.S. census tracts
Smaller shares here
 Tornadoes Strong wind Hail Winter storms top 2% Wildfire Ice storms Hurricanes Landslides top 2% Cold waves Heat waves Lightning
FEMA models no building damage here
Coastal floodingAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity
People, not buildings.Counting harm to people as well as buildings, FEMA’s model puts heat waves at 23% of Des Arc’s expected losses. Heat waves do little damage to buildings (0.0%), so they aren’t part of the grade.

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.

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 Des Arc flood? Rarely: 1 flood claim since 2025

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

Paid flood claims, by year
2025: 1 claim2026: 0 claims2025
20252026
Biggest named events
  • The Central U.S. April Flooding1 claim · $22K
1
paid claims since 2025
$22K
paid to owners
0
homes flooded more than once
$22K
average claim
of homes in flood zones are insured
of all homes are insured
No community discount

Des Arc isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Iron County.
Disasters

3 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Des Arc

Disasters that paid out in Des Arc itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Village of Des Arc), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.

  1. 2025Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires76 households applied for aid$240K aid approved1 flood claim paid that year
  2. 2017Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding5 households applied for aid$2K aid approved
  3. 2008Severe Storms and Flooding21 households applied for aid$19K aid approved
Disasters declared, by decade
Paid out in Des ArcIron County only

Iron County has had 22 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then floods. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.

Were you here?

Old photos of Des Arc after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.

Add to the Des Arc archive →
Be ready

Get ready for what Des Arc faces

A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.

When the river rises
  • 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.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Earthquakes
  • Drop, cover and hold on.
  • Strap tall furniture and the water heater to the wall.
  • Know how to shut off the gas.
More from Ready.gov ↗
Before you buy or rent
  • 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.
When a storm is coming
Forecast and alertsWeather →911, the nearest ERSafety →

Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.

Questions about natural hazards in Des Arc

Does Des Arc flood?

Flood insurance has paid 1 claim in Des Arc since 2025, $22K in all. The most claims came from Central U.S. April Flooding (1).

Is Des Arc 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 Iron County, 3% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 0.5% of all homes do.

How much is flood insurance in Des Arc?

FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Des Arc’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 Des Arc?

By FEMA money that reached Des Arc, Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Wildfires (2025): 76 households applied for aid, $240K approved. By flood claims, Central U.S. April Flooding: 1 paid, $22K.

Storm stories

Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Des Arc.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Des Arc’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.