Every federal disaster in Birmingham since 1961
Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Jefferson County. Declarations make federal aid available after hurricanes, floods, storms, fires and other events, so this is a record of the big ones.
- Declarations
- 42since 1961
- Major disasters
- 29the most serious kind
- Since 2000
- 28declarations
- Most recent
- 2024Hurricane Helene
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Jefferson County's overall natural hazard risk relatively high, led by tornado, lightning and inland flooding. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.
All declarations
| Declared | Event | Type | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2024 | Hurricane Helene | Emergency | EM-3618 |
| Dec 21, 2021 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4632 |
| Apr 26, 2021 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-4596 |
| Mar 28, 2021 | COVID-19 Pandemic | Major disaster | DR-4591 |
| Sep 14, 2020 | Hurricane Sally | Emergency | EM-3545 |
| Mar 29, 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic | Major disaster | DR-4503 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3528 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3472 |
| Oct 8, 2017 | Hurricane Nate | Emergency | EM-3394 |
| Sep 11, 2017 | Hurricane Irma | Emergency | EM-3389 |
| May 2, 2014 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4176 |
| Feb 1, 2012 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4052 |
| Apr 28, 2011 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1971 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds | Emergency | EM-3319 |
| May 8, 2009 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds | Major disaster | DR-1836 |
| Aug 30, 2008 | Hurricane Gustav | Emergency | EM-3292 |
| Mar 3, 2007 | Severe Storms and Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-1687 |
| Sep 10, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Emergency | EM-3237 |
| Aug 29, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina | Major disaster | DR-1605 |
| Jul 10, 2005 | Hurricane Dennis | Major disaster | DR-1593 |
| Sep 15, 2004 | Hurricane Ivan | Major disaster | DR-1549 |
| May 12, 2003 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1466 |
| Nov 14, 2002 | Severe Storms and Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-1442 |
| Dec 7, 2001 | Severe Storms and Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-1399 |
| Mar 5, 2001 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1362 |
| Dec 18, 2000 | Severe Storms and Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-1352 |
| Sep 17, 2000 | Al - County Line Fire - 09/17/2000 | Fire management | FM-2339 |
| Mar 17, 2000 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1322 |
| Apr 9, 1998 | Severe Storms and Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-1214 |
| Oct 4, 1995 | Hurricane Opal | Major disaster | DR-1070 |
| Mar 15, 1993 | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm | Emergency | EM-3096 |
| Feb 17, 1990 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-856 |
| Dec 13, 1983 | Severe Storms,Flooding and Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-695 |
| Apr 18, 1979 | Storms, Wind, Flooding | Major disaster | DR-578 |
| Jul 20, 1977 | Drought | Emergency | EM-3045 |
| Apr 9, 1977 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-532 |
| Mar 14, 1975 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-458 |
| Jan 18, 1975 | Tornadoes | Emergency | EM-3007 |
| Apr 4, 1974 | Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-422 |
| May 29, 1973 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-388 |
| Apr 9, 1970 | Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-285 |
| Feb 27, 1961 | Floods | Major disaster | DR-109 |
Frequently asked questions
How many federal disasters has Birmingham had?
Since 1961, the federal government has issued 42 disaster or emergency declarations covering Jefferson County, including 29 major disaster declarations. 28 of them came in 2000 or later.
What was the most recent federal disaster in Birmingham?
Hurricane Helene (Emergency, declared September 26, 2024).
What kinds of disasters hit Birmingham most often?
By FEMA incident type: severe storm (18), hurricane (10), flood (5) and biological (4).
New to Birmingham? 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 Jefferson 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.