Water Risk Profile — ZIP 72220
Flood risk, local cost data, climate factors, and insurance context for your ZIP code.
Flood Risk
Medium
Cost Range
$1,500–$8,500
Avg Response
42 min
NFIP
State participates
Local Climate & Risk Factors
Little Rock, Arkansas experiences a humid subtropical climate with average annual rainfall of 50+ inches and significant risk from spring tornado season and summer flash flooding. The Arkansas River and its tributaries create FEMA Zone AE flood hazards in many communities — check your property's flood zone at FEMA's Flood Map Service Center before assuming standard HO-3 coverage is sufficient. Pipe bursts occur during winter cold snaps when temperatures drop below 15°F, typically in January and February. Arkansas Insurance Department regulations require insurers to acknowledge claims within 10 days and make a coverage decision within 15 days of receiving proof of loss.
Flood-prone areas: The Riverdale neighborhood sits within the Arkansas River's FEMA AE floodplain and suffered direct water intrusion during the record May 2019 flood, which crested at 30.86 feet — dozens of homes along Rebsamen Park Road received 1-4 feet of water and many were not insured for flood. Fourche Creek, Little Rock's most problematic urban waterway, regularly overtops during 3-inch rain events, flooding homes in the South End and Woodson neighborhoods that were constructed before FEMA's 1978 floodplain management regulations required minimum finished floor elevations.
Water Category Cost Table — Little Rock, AR
Extraction & drying cost per square foot by IICRC water category
| Water Category | $/sq ft |
|---|---|
| Category 1 — Clean Burst supply line, clean appliance overflow | $2.72–$6.74 |
| Category 2 — Gray Dishwasher, washing machine, toilet bowl (no feces) | $6.74–$8.16 |
| Category 3 — Black Sewage backup, floodwater, toilet overflow with feces | $9.59–$12.1 |
Estimates exclude reconstruction (drywall, flooring replacement). National benchmarks: Cat 1 $3.75–$4.25, Cat 2 $4.10–$6.50, Cat 3 $7–$7.50/sq ft — adjusted for Little Rock market (3.2–11/sq ft range).