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Every federal disaster in Charlotte since 1954

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

Declarations
26since 1954
Major disasters
15the most serious kind
Since 2000
15declarations
Most recent
2026Severe Winter Storm
195419551956195819601960196219641970197719771980198919901996200020002002200420052010201320182019202020202020202020222024202420242026
Hurricanes and tropical storms (14)Winter storms (4)Severe storms and tornadoes (2)Floods (2)Biological (COVID-19) (2)Other (1)Earthquakes and landslides (1)

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Mecklenburg County's overall natural hazard risk relatively high, led by tornado, inland flooding and winter weather. 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
Aug 6, 2024Tropical Storm DebbyEmergencyEM-3608
Oct 1, 2022Hurricane IanEmergencyEM-3586
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
Mar 1, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4103
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3222
Sep 10, 2004Tropical Storm FrancesMajor disasterDR-1546
Dec 12, 2002Severe Ice StormMajor disasterDR-1448
Jan 31, 2000Severe Winter StormMajor disasterDR-1312
Jan 13, 1996Blizzard of 96Major disasterDR-1087
Sep 25, 1989Hurricane HugoMajor disasterDR-844
Aug 11, 1977DroughtEmergencyEM-3049
Mar 2, 1977Drought & FreezingEmergencyEM-3033
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 Charlotte had?

Since 1954, the federal government has issued 26 disaster or emergency declarations covering Mecklenburg County, including 15 major disaster declarations. 15 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Charlotte?

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

What kinds of disasters hit Charlotte most often?

By FEMA incident type: hurricane (11), tropical storm (3), severe storm (2) and flood (2).

New to Charlotte? 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 Mecklenburg 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.