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Every federal disaster in Asheville since 1954

Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Buncombe County. Declarations make federal aid available after hurricanes, floods, storms, fires and other events, so this is a record of the big ones.

Declarations
29since 1954
Major disasters
19the most serious kind
Since 2000
17declarations
Most recent
2026Severe Winter Storm
195419551956195819601960196219641970197319771980199019931996199620002004200420052010201020132013201620182019202020202020202020212022202420242026
Hurricanes and tropical storms (15)Floods (5)Winter storms (3)Severe storms and tornadoes (2)Biological (COVID-19) (2)Earthquakes and landslides (1)Fires (1)

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Buncombe County's overall natural hazard risk relatively moderate, led by lightning, strong wind and ice storm. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.

All declarations

DeclaredEventTypeFEMA number
Jan 24, 2026Severe Winter StormEmergencyEM-3637
Sep 28, 2024Tropical Storm HeleneMajor disasterDR-4827
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergencyEM-3617
Oct 1, 2022Hurricane IanEmergencyEM-3586
Sep 8, 2021Remnants of Tropical Storm FredMajor disasterDR-4617
Aug 2, 2020Hurricane IsaiasEmergencyEM-3534
Mar 25, 2020COVID-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4487
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3471
Sep 3, 2019Hurricane DorianEmergencyEM-3423
Sep 10, 2018Hurricane FlorenceEmergencyEM-3401
Nov 11, 2016Party Rock FireFire managementFM-5161
Sep 25, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4146
Mar 1, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4103
Feb 2, 2010Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1871
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3222
Sep 18, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disasterDR-1553
Sep 10, 2004Tropical Storm FrancesMajor disasterDR-1546
Sep 6, 1996Hurricane FranMajor disasterDR-1134
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disasterDR-1087
Mar 17, 1993Severe Snowfall & Winter StormEmergencyEM-3110
Nov 9, 1977Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-542
Jun 25, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-394
Oct 13, 1964Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-179
Mar 16, 1962Severe Storm, High Tides & FloodingMajor disasterDR-130
Sep 16, 1960Hurricane DonnaMajor disasterDR-107
Oct 1, 1958Hurricane & Severe StormMajor disasterDR-87
Apr 24, 1956Severe StormMajor disasterDR-56
Aug 13, 1955HurricanesMajor disasterDR-37
Oct 17, 1954HurricaneMajor disasterDR-28

Frequently asked questions

How many federal disasters has Asheville had?

Since 1954, the federal government has issued 29 disaster or emergency declarations covering Buncombe County, including 19 major disaster declarations. 17 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Asheville?

Severe Winter Storm (Emergency, declared January 24, 2026).

What kinds of disasters hit Asheville most often?

By FEMA incident type: hurricane (13), flood (5), severe storm (2) and snowstorm (2).

New to Asheville? 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 Buncombe 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.