Every federal disaster in Chattanooga since 1963
Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Hamilton 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 1963
- Major disasters
- 19the most serious kind
- Since 2000
- 17declarations
- Most recent
- 2026Severe Winter Storm
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Hamilton County's overall natural hazard risk relatively moderate, 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
| Declared | Event | Type | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 6, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | Major disaster | DR-4898 |
| Jan 24, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | Emergency | EM-3635 |
| Apr 2, 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Emergency | EM-3625 |
| Jun 17, 2024 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4792 |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado | Major disaster | DR-4712 |
| Apr 24, 2020 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4541 |
| Apr 2, 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic | Major disaster | DR-4514 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3473 |
| Apr 17, 2019 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | Major disaster | DR-4427 |
| Nov 11, 2016 | Smith Mountain Fire Complex | Fire management | FM-5160 |
| Nov 9, 2016 | Flippers Bend Fire | Fire management | FM-5159 |
| Mar 16, 2012 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and | Major disaster | DR-4060 |
| May 1, 2011 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1974 |
| Mar 31, 2011 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1965 |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Emergency | EM-3217 |
| Oct 7, 2004 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1568 |
| May 8, 2003 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1464 |
| Jan 15, 1999 | Severe Winter Storm | Major disaster | DR-1260 |
| Apr 2, 1997 | Severe Storms and Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-1171 |
| Apr 14, 1994 | Extensive Rainfall and Flash Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1022 |
| Mar 14, 1993 | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm | Emergency | EM-3095 |
| Feb 27, 1990 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-858 |
| Aug 24, 1982 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-666 |
| Apr 4, 1974 | Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-424 |
| Mar 21, 1973 | Heavy Rains & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-366 |
| Mar 27, 1963 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-151 |
Frequently asked questions
How many federal disasters has Chattanooga had?
Since 1963, the federal government has issued 26 disaster or emergency declarations covering Hamilton County, including 19 major disaster declarations. 17 of them came in 2000 or later.
What was the most recent federal disaster in Chattanooga?
Severe Winter Storm (Major disaster, declared February 6, 2026).
What kinds of disasters hit Chattanooga most often?
By FEMA incident type: severe storm (11), flood (6), fire (2) and biological (2).
New to Chattanooga? 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 Hamilton 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.