Every federal disaster in Columbia since 1962
Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Howard County. Declarations make federal aid available after hurricanes, floods, storms, fires and other events, so this is a record of the big ones.
- Declarations
- 23since 1962
- Major disasters
- 16the most serious kind
- Since 2000
- 17declarations
- Most recent
- 2026Severe Winter Storm
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Howard County's overall natural hazard risk relatively low, led by winter weather, strong wind and lightning. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.
All declarations
| Declared | Event | Type | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 24, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | Emergency | EM-3634 |
| Mar 26, 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic | Major disaster | DR-4491 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3430 |
| Jul 2, 2018 | Severe Storm and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4376 |
| Sep 16, 2016 | Severe Storm and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4279 |
| Mar 4, 2016 | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm | Major disaster | DR-4261 |
| Apr 10, 2014 | Snowstorm | Major disaster | DR-4170 |
| Nov 20, 2012 | Hurricane Sandy | Major disaster | DR-4091 |
| Oct 28, 2012 | Hurricane Sandy | Emergency | EM-3349 |
| Oct 5, 2011 | Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee | Major disaster | DR-4038 |
| Aug 27, 2011 | Hurricane Irene | Emergency | EM-3335 |
| May 6, 2010 | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms | Major disaster | DR-1910 |
| Feb 19, 2010 | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm | Major disaster | DR-1875 |
| Sep 13, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Emergency | EM-3251 |
| Sep 19, 2003 | Hurricane Isabel | Major disaster | DR-1492 |
| Mar 14, 2003 | Snow | Emergency | EM-3179 |
| Apr 10, 2000 | Severe Winter Storm | Major disaster | DR-1324 |
| Jan 11, 1996 | Blizzard of 96 (Severe Snow Storm) | Major disaster | DR-1081 |
| Mar 16, 1993 | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm | Emergency | EM-3100 |
| Oct 4, 1975 | Heavy Rains & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-489 |
| Jun 23, 1972 | Tropical Storm Agnes | Major disaster | DR-341 |
| Aug 17, 1971 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-309 |
| Mar 9, 1962 | Severe Storms, High Tides & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-127 |
Frequently asked questions
How many federal disasters has Columbia had?
Since 1962, the federal government has issued 23 disaster or emergency declarations covering Howard County, including 16 major disaster declarations. 17 of them came in 2000 or later.
What was the most recent federal disaster in Columbia?
Severe Winter Storm (Emergency, declared January 24, 2026).
What kinds of disasters hit Columbia most often?
By FEMA incident type: flood (7), snowstorm (5), hurricane (5) and severe storm (3).
New to Columbia? 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 Howard 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.