Ark. Code Ann. § 5-38-202 (2026)

1. 1. A person commits the offense of causing a catastrophe if he or she knowingly causes a catastrophe by:
      1. Explosion;
      2. Fire;
      3. Flood;
      4. Avalanche;
      5. Collapse of building;
      6. Distribution of a poison, radioactive material, bacteria, or virus; or
      7. Another dangerous and difficult to confine force or substance.
   2. Causing a catastrophe is a Class Y felony.
2. 1. A person commits the offense of threatening to cause a catastrophe if he or she:
      1. Contacts any person, company, corporation, or governmental entity; and
      2. Threatens to cause a catastrophe by explosion, fire, flood, avalanche, collapse of building, release of a poison, radioactive material, bacteria, or virus, or another dangerous and difficult to confine force or substance, unless:
         1. Paid a sum of money or any type of property; or
         2. The person, company, corporation, or governmental entity performs a requested act.
   2. Threatening to cause a catastrophe is a Class D felony.
3. In addition to any other restitution ordered under § 5-4-205, a court may order that a person who violates this section make restitution to the state or any political subdivision of the state for any cleanup costs associated with the commission of the offense.

History. Acts 1975, No. 280, § 1905; 1983, No. 689, § 1; 1983, No. 815, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 41-1905; Acts 2003, No. 1342, § 2.