Every federal disaster in Cedar Rapids since 1953

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

Declarations: 31since 1953
Major disasters: 28the most serious kind
Since 2000: 15declarations
Most recent: 2020Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds

Floods (17)Severe storms and tornadoes (9)Biological (COVID-19) (3)Hurricanes and tropical storms (1)Winter storms (1)

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

All declarations

Declared	Event	Type	FEMA number
Sep 10, 2020	Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds	Major disaster	DR-4561
Aug 17, 2020	Severe Storms	Major disaster	DR-4557
Mar 23, 2020	COVID-19 Pandemic	Major disaster	DR-4483
Mar 13, 2020	COVID-19	Emergency	EM-3480
Mar 13, 2020	COVID-19	Emergency	EM-3524
Apr 29, 2019	Severe Storms and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-4430
Oct 31, 2016	Severe Storms and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-4289
Aug 5, 2014	Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-4187
Jul 2, 2013	Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-4126
May 27, 2008	Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1763
Jan 4, 2008	Severe Winter Storm	Major disaster	DR-1737
Mar 14, 2007	Severe Winter Storms	Major disaster	DR-1688
Sep 10, 2005	Hurricane Katrina Evacuation	Emergency	EM-3239
May 25, 2004	Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1518
Jun 19, 2002	Severe Storms and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1420
Jul 22, 1999	Severe Storms and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1282
May 21, 1999	Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes	Major disaster	DR-1277
Jul 2, 1998	Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1230
Jul 9, 1993	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-996
Apr 26, 1993	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-986
Sep 6, 1990	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-879
May 26, 1990	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-868
Jun 24, 1974	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-443
Aug 14, 1969	Heavy Rains & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-269
Aug 4, 1968	Heavy Rains & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-248
Apr 22, 1965	Flooding	Major disaster	DR-193
Sep 5, 1962	Floods	Major disaster	DR-133
Mar 31, 1961	Floods	Major disaster	DR-111
Jul 5, 1958	Floods	Major disaster	DR-86
Jun 23, 1954	Flood	Major disaster	DR-17
Jun 11, 1953	Flood	Major disaster	DR-8

Frequently asked questions

How many federal disasters has Cedar Rapids had?

Since 1953, the federal government has issued 31 disaster or emergency declarations covering Linn County, including 28 major disaster declarations. 15 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Cedar Rapids?

Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds (Major disaster, declared September 10, 2020).

What kinds of disasters hit Cedar Rapids most often?

By FEMA incident type: flood (17), severe storm (9), biological (3) and hurricane (1).

New to Cedar Rapids? 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 Linn 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.