Every federal disaster in Evanston since 1957
Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Cook 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 1957
- Major disasters
- 21the most serious kind
- Since 2000
- 12declarations
- Most recent
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Floodng
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Cook County's overall natural hazard risk very high, led by tornado, inland flooding and heat wave. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.
All declarations
| Declared | Event | Type | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 20, 2024 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Floodng | Major disaster | DR-4819 |
| Nov 20, 2023 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4749 |
| Aug 15, 2023 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4728 |
| Mar 26, 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic | Major disaster | DR-4489 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3435 |
| May 10, 2013 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4116 |
| Mar 17, 2011 | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm | Major disaster | DR-1960 |
| Aug 19, 2010 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1935 |
| Oct 3, 2008 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1800 |
| Sep 25, 2007 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1729 |
| Sep 7, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Emergency | EM-3230 |
| Jan 17, 2001 | Illinois Winter Snow Storms | Emergency | EM-3161 |
| Jan 8, 1999 | Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99 | Emergency | EM-3134 |
| Sep 17, 1997 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1188 |
| Jul 25, 1996 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1129 |
| Jul 9, 1993 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-997 |
| Aug 21, 1987 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-798 |
| Oct 7, 1986 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-776 |
| Jun 30, 1981 | Severe Storms, Flooding & Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-643 |
| Jan 16, 1979 | Blizzards & Snowstorms | Emergency | EM-3068 |
| Jun 18, 1976 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-509 |
| Apr 26, 1973 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-373 |
| Sep 4, 1972 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-351 |
| Apr 25, 1967 | Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-227 |
| May 27, 1961 | Floods & Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-115 |
| Jun 22, 1957 | Floods | Major disaster | DR-78 |
Frequently asked questions
How many federal disasters has Evanston had?
Since 1957, the federal government has issued 26 disaster or emergency declarations covering Cook County, including 21 major disaster declarations. 12 of them came in 2000 or later.
What was the most recent federal disaster in Evanston?
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Floodng (Major disaster, declared September 20, 2024).
What kinds of disasters hit Evanston most often?
By FEMA incident type: flood (10), severe storm (8), snowstorm (4) and biological (2).
New to Evanston? 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 Cook 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.