Johnson County Department of Emergency Management

03/03/2026

🌪️ BIG Changes to Severe Weather Outlooks!
It’s Severe Weather Awareness Week in Arkansas, and the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) is rolling out a brand-new way to track storms this Spring.

🛑 What’s New?
In the past, the map colors mostly told you the probability (chance) of a storm. Now, the colors represent Overall Risk—combining the chance of a storm with how intense it’s likely to be.

📊 The Two Layers of Protection:
The Colors (Overall Risk): Still 1 through 5 (Marginal to High). Higher categories now mean a higher risk of both storm frequency and potential damage.

The Hatching (Intensity): Look for the lines drawn over the colors! These tell you the maximum "punch" a storm might pack:

No Hatching: Standard severe (1" hail, 60 mph winds).

Level 1 (Dashed /): Golf ball hail, 70 mph winds, EF2 tornadoes.

Level 2 (Solid /): Baseball hail, 80 mph winds, EF3 tornadoes.

Level 3 (Crossed X): Softball+ hail, 90+ mph winds, EF4+ tornadoes.

💡 The Bottom Line:
If you see warm colors (Orange/Red/Magenta) overlapping with cross-hatching (X), the risk for high-impact, damaging weather is significant.

Stay weather-aware this season! ⛈️👇

08/19/2025

10/31/2024

Johnson County Judge Herman Houston has lifted the Burn Ban for Johnson County effective at 12:00 PM today, Thursday, October 31, 2024.

Although conditions have improved from the last few weeks with recent rainfall, Johnson County remains at a high wildfire danger. Residents are urged to use extreme caution and use appropriate protective measures when burning. Remember, all controlled burns must be called into the Johnson County Communications Center at 479-774-6911 and burns should be supervised at all times. The Burn Ban may be reinstated at any time as conditions dictate.

10/30/2024

10/30/24 We are still under a burn ban, it will take substantial widespread rain before the burn ban is lifted. A reminder that burn bans are issued and lifted by the County Judge.

10/01/2024

Effective at 2:00 PM today, Tuesday, October 1, 2024, Johnson County Judge Herman Houston has issued a BURN BAN for Johnson County until further notice.

07/19/2024

Come by and visit us at the Johnson County Peach Festival. The Johnson County Fire Chiefs Association will be drawing for a Henry Golden Boy lever action .22lr with custom engraving. One ticket for $10 or 3 for $25 with the drawing Saturday after the Peach Festival Parade. We also have displays and information about volunteer opportunities for the Johnson County Fire Service, Johnson County DEM Search and Rescue Team, Johnson County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)/Auxiliary Communications (AUXCOMM), and the Johnson County Dept of Emergency Management. We can also get up you signed up for emergency and weather alerts from the County's GENASYS Alert system.

04/26/2024

03/14/2024

Thursday afternoon/evening has the potential for some severe weather. Make sure you have at least two ways of getting severe weather alerts. Now would be a good time to make sure you are signed up for Johnson County's Genasys Emergency Alert system. You can signup at https://johnsoncountyalerts.genasys.com/portal/en

If you need assistance getting signed up for Johnson County Alerts, you may call the Emergency Management office during regular business hours at 479-754-6383.

Scattered severe t-storms are expected to pop up from western into central Arkansas during the late afternoon and evening Thursday. Storms that become severe will be capable of producing quarter size hail or larger and damaging wind. An isolated tornado or two is possible.

03/01/2024

Johnson County Judge Herman Houston has lifted the Burn Ban for Johnson County effective at 10:00 AM today, Friday, March 1, 2024.

Although conditions have improved from the last few days, Johnson County remains at a moderate wildfire danger, so residents are urged to use extreme caution when burning. Remember all controlled burns must be called into the Johnson County Communications Center at 479-774-6911 and burns should be supervised at all times. The Burn Ban may be reinstated at any time as conditions dictate.

02/27/2024

Effective at 12:00 PM today, Tuesday, February 27, 2024, Johnson County Judge Herman Houston has issued a BURN BAN for Johnson County until further notice.

11/22/2023

Help support your local fire department win the Toys for Tots Fire Department Challenge. Donations of new, unwrapped toys may be dropped off in the EOC Conference Room in the basement of the Johnson County Courthouse during normal business hours or you may contact your local fire department. The Toys for Tots organizer has let us know that they especially have a need for gifts for teenagers and babies. The donation boxes for each fire department will be available in the basement of the Courthouse starting Monday, November 27 until noon on Thursday, December 14.

09/12/2023