Every federal disaster in Fayetteville since 1954
Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Cumberland 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 1954
- Major disasters
- 18the most serious kind
- Since 2000
- 19declarations
- Most recent
- 2026Severe Winter Storm
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Cumberland County's overall natural hazard risk relatively moderate, led by winter weather, hurricane and tornado. 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-3637 |
| Sep 26, 2024 | Hurricane Helene | Emergency | EM-3617 |
| Aug 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm Debby | Emergency | EM-3608 |
| Oct 1, 2022 | Hurricane Ian | Emergency | EM-3586 |
| Aug 2, 2020 | Hurricane Isaias | Emergency | EM-3534 |
| Mar 25, 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic | Major disaster | DR-4487 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3471 |
| Sep 3, 2019 | Hurricane Dorian | Emergency | EM-3423 |
| Sep 14, 2018 | Hurricane Florence | Major disaster | DR-4393 |
| Sep 10, 2018 | Hurricane Florence | Emergency | EM-3401 |
| Oct 10, 2016 | Hurricane Matthew | Major disaster | DR-4285 |
| Oct 7, 2016 | Hurricane Matthew | Emergency | EM-3380 |
| Mar 1, 2013 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | Major disaster | DR-4103 |
| Jul 4, 2011 | Simmons Road Fire | Fire management | FM-2936 |
| Apr 19, 2011 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1969 |
| Sep 14, 2005 | Hurricane Ophelia | Emergency | EM-3254 |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Emergency | EM-3222 |
| Sep 10, 2004 | Tropical Storm Frances | Major disaster | DR-1546 |
| Sep 18, 2003 | Hurricane Isabel | Major disaster | DR-1490 |
| Sep 16, 1999 | Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations | Major disaster | DR-1292 |
| Sep 15, 1999 | Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations | Emergency | EM-3146 |
| Aug 27, 1998 | Hurricane Bonnie | Major disaster | DR-1240 |
| Sep 6, 1996 | Hurricane Fran | Major disaster | DR-1134 |
| Mar 30, 1984 | Severe Storms & Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-699 |
| Oct 13, 1964 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-179 |
| Mar 16, 1962 | Severe Storm, High Tides & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-130 |
| Sep 16, 1960 | Hurricane Donna | Major disaster | DR-107 |
| Oct 1, 1958 | Hurricane & Severe Storm | Major disaster | DR-87 |
| Apr 24, 1956 | Severe Storm | Major disaster | DR-56 |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Hurricanes | Major disaster | DR-37 |
| Oct 17, 1954 | Hurricane | Major disaster | DR-28 |
Frequently asked questions
How many federal disasters has Fayetteville had?
Since 1954, the federal government has issued 31 disaster or emergency declarations covering Cumberland County, including 18 major disaster declarations. 19 of them came in 2000 or later.
What was the most recent federal disaster in Fayetteville?
Severe Winter Storm (Emergency, declared January 24, 2026).
What kinds of disasters hit Fayetteville most often?
By FEMA incident type: hurricane (19), severe storm (2), flood (2) and biological (2).
New to Fayetteville? 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 Cumberland 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.