Every federal disaster in Bentonville since 1957
Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Benton County. Declarations make federal aid available after hurricanes, floods, storms, fires and other events, so this is a record of the big ones.
- Declarations
- 31since 1957
- Major disasters
- 23the most serious kind
- Since 2000
- 19declarations
- Most recent
- 2026Severe Winter Storm
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Benton County's overall natural hazard risk relatively moderate, led by ice storm, winter weather and strong wind. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.
All declarations
| Declared | Event | Type | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 24, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | Emergency | EM-3636 |
| Apr 5, 2025 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Emergency | EM-3627 |
| May 30, 2024 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4788 |
| Aug 27, 2020 | Hurricane Laura | Emergency | EM-3541 |
| Apr 3, 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic | Major disaster | DR-4518 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3461 |
| Jun 15, 2017 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4318 |
| Feb 5, 2016 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4254 |
| Sep 4, 2013 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4143 |
| May 2, 2011 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1975 |
| Feb 6, 2009 | Severe Winter Storm | Major disaster | DR-1819 |
| Jan 28, 2009 | Severe Winter Storm | Emergency | EM-3301 |
| May 20, 2008 | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-1758 |
| Mar 26, 2008 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1751 |
| Sep 2, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Emergency | EM-3215 |
| Jun 30, 2004 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1528 |
| Jun 6, 2003 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1472 |
| Dec 29, 2000 | Severe Winter Ice Storm | Major disaster | DR-1354 |
| Dec 28, 2000 | Severe Winter Ice Storm | Emergency | EM-3159 |
| May 15, 1990 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-865 |
| Dec 3, 1976 | Drought | Emergency | EM-3019 |
| Jun 8, 1974 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-437 |
| Apr 27, 1973 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-375 |
| Jan 27, 1972 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-321 |
| Feb 15, 1969 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-254 |
| Mar 20, 1964 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-166 |
| Aug 2, 1963 | Heavy Rains & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-157 |
| May 16, 1961 | Floods & Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-112 |
| May 28, 1960 | Tornadoes & Floods | Major disaster | DR-102 |
| May 15, 1958 | Heavy Rainstorms & Floods | Major disaster | DR-83 |
| May 29, 1957 | Tornadoes, Rain, Hail & Floods | Major disaster | DR-77 |
Frequently asked questions
How many federal disasters has Bentonville had?
Since 1957, the federal government has issued 31 disaster or emergency declarations covering Benton County, including 23 major disaster declarations. 19 of them came in 2000 or later.
What was the most recent federal disaster in Bentonville?
Severe Winter Storm (Emergency, declared January 24, 2026).
What kinds of disasters hit Bentonville most often?
By FEMA incident type: severe storm (11), flood (9), severe ice storm (3) and tornado (2).
New to Bentonville? The city profile covers flood maps and emergency alerts, and the risk summary shows FEMA's hazard ratings.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), downloaded October 18, 2026. We list declarations that named Benton County, plus early statewide declarations from before FEMA designated individual counties. "Major disaster" declarations bring the widest federal aid; "emergency" declarations cover shorter-term help; "fire management" declarations help pay to fight large wildfires.