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Every federal disaster in Bakersfield since 1954

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

Declarations
65since 1954
Major disasters
44the most serious kind
Since 2000
43declarations
Most recent
2024Borel Fire
195419551956195819601961196219621963196319641967196919701970197719781980198319901991199219951995199819992000200220032003200520052005200720082010201020102010201020112011201120112013201420152016201620172017201720192019201920192020202020202021202320232023202320232023202320232023202420242024
Fires (20)Floods (15)Severe storms and tornadoes (15)Hurricanes and tropical storms (5)Winter storms (4)Other (2)Earthquakes and landslides (2)Biological (COVID-19) (2)

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Kern County's overall natural hazard risk relatively high, led by wildfire, inland flooding and earthquake. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.

All declarations

DeclaredEventTypeFEMA number
Jul 27, 2024Borel FireFire managementFM-5522
Apr 19, 2024Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4772
Apr 19, 2024Severe Winter StormMajor disasterDR-4773
Nov 21, 2023Tropical Storm HilaryMajor disasterDR-4750
Oct 18, 2023Tropical Storm HilaryMajor disasterDR-4746
Sep 27, 2023Tropical Storm HilaryMajor disasterDR-4743
May 25, 2023Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4714
May 18, 2023Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4713
Apr 25, 2023Severe Winter Storms and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4707
Apr 3, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4699
Mar 10, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesEmergencyEM-3592
Mar 8, 2023EarthquakeMajor disasterDR-4692
Aug 25, 2021French FireFire managementFM-5416
Mar 22, 2020COVID-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4482
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3428
Jul 8, 2019EarthquakesEmergencyEM-3415
Apr 8, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4425
Mar 28, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4423
Mar 26, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4422
May 2, 2017FloodingMajor disasterDR-4312
Mar 16, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4305
Feb 14, 2017Severe Winter StormMajor disasterDR-4302
Aug 22, 2016Cedar FireFire managementFM-5150
Jun 24, 2016Erskine FireFire managementFM-5131
Jan 27, 2015Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4206
Aug 19, 2014Way FireFire managementFM-5075
Aug 29, 2013WildfireMajor disasterDR-4142
Sep 11, 2011Comanche Fire ComplexFire managementFM-2971
Sep 11, 2011Keene Fire ComplexFire managementFM-2970
Sep 5, 2011Canyon FireFire managementFM-2961
Jan 26, 2011Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud FlowsMajor disasterDR-1952
Sep 15, 2010Canyon FireFire managementFM-2858
Aug 24, 2010Post FireFire managementFM-2852
Jul 28, 2010West FireFire managementFM-2850
Jul 27, 2010Bull FireFire managementFM-2849
Jun 28, 2008WildfiresEmergencyEM-3287
Mar 13, 2007Severe FreezeMajor disasterDR-1689
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3248
Apr 14, 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mud and Debris FlowsMajor disasterDR-1585
Feb 4, 2005Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-1577
Jun 29, 2003Ca - Tejon Fire - 06-30-2003Fire managementFM-2474
Jun 28, 2003Ca - Sawmill Fire - 06-27-2003Fire managementFM-2473
Jul 22, 2002Deer FireFire managementFM-2450
Feb 9, 1999Ca-Citrus Crop Damage 2/2/99Major disasterDR-1267
Feb 9, 1998Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1203
Mar 12, 1995Severe Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud FlowMajor disasterDR-1046
Jan 10, 1995Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mud FlowsMajor disasterDR-1044
Feb 25, 1992Rain/Snow/Wind Storms, Flooding, MudslidesMajor disasterDR-935
Feb 11, 1991Severe FreezeMajor disasterDR-894
Feb 9, 1983Coastal Storms, Floods, Slides & TornadoesMajor disasterDR-677
Feb 15, 1978Coastal Storms, Mudslides & FloodingMajor disasterDR-547
Jan 20, 1977DroughtEmergencyEM-3023
Sep 29, 1970Forest & Brush FiresMajor disasterDR-295
Jan 26, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-253
Jan 2, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-223
Apr 1, 1964Seismic Sea WaveMajor disasterDR-169
Dec 21, 1963Flood Due to Broken DamMajor disasterDR-161
Feb 25, 1963Severe Storms, Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disasterDR-145
Oct 24, 1962Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-138
Mar 6, 1962FloodsMajor disasterDR-122
Nov 16, 1961Fire (Los Angeles County)Major disasterDR-119
Apr 4, 1958Heavy Rainstorms & FloodMajor disasterDR-82
Dec 29, 1956Forest FireMajor disasterDR-65
Dec 23, 1955FloodMajor disasterDR-47
Feb 5, 1954Flood & ErosionMajor disasterDR-15

Frequently asked questions

How many federal disasters has Bakersfield had?

Since 1954, the federal government has issued 65 disaster or emergency declarations covering Kern County, including 44 major disaster declarations. 43 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Bakersfield?

Borel Fire (Fire management, declared July 27, 2024).

What kinds of disasters hit Bakersfield most often?

By FEMA incident type: fire (20), severe storm (15), flood (14) and freezing (3).

New to Bakersfield? The moving checklist 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 Kern 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.