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Every federal disaster in Fort Smith since 1957

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

Declarations
27since 1957
Major disasters
18the most serious kind
Since 2000
15declarations
Most recent
2026Severe Winter Storm
1957195819601960196119631964196819681970197219761980199019901996200020002000200520082009201020142015201620192019202020202020202020252026
Severe storms and tornadoes (9)Floods (8)Winter storms (5)Hurricanes and tropical storms (2)Biological (COVID-19) (2)Other (1)

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Sebastian County's overall natural hazard risk relatively moderate, led by ice storm, tornado 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-3636
Apr 5, 2025Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingEmergencyEM-3627
Aug 27, 2020Hurricane LauraEmergencyEM-3541
Apr 3, 2020COVID-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4518
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3461
Jun 8, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4441
May 30, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingEmergencyEM-3414
Feb 5, 2016Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4254
Jun 26, 2015Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4226
Jan 6, 2014Severe Winter StormMajor disasterDR-4160
Jan 28, 2009Severe Winter StormEmergencyEM-3301
Mar 26, 2008Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1751
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3215
Dec 29, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disasterDR-1354
Dec 28, 2000Severe Winter Ice StormEmergencyEM-3159
Apr 23, 1996Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disasterDR-1111
May 15, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-865
Dec 3, 1976DroughtEmergencyEM-3019
Jan 27, 1972Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-321
May 29, 1968Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-239
May 3, 1968Tornado & Severe StormMajor disasterDR-236
Mar 20, 1964Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-166
Aug 2, 1963Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disasterDR-157
May 16, 1961Floods & TornadoesMajor disasterDR-112
May 28, 1960Tornadoes & FloodsMajor disasterDR-102
May 15, 1958Heavy Rainstorms & FloodsMajor disasterDR-83
May 29, 1957Tornadoes, Rain, Hail & FloodsMajor disasterDR-77

Frequently asked questions

How many federal disasters has Fort Smith had?

Since 1957, the federal government has issued 27 disaster or emergency declarations covering Sebastian County, including 18 major disaster declarations. 15 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Fort Smith?

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

What kinds of disasters hit Fort Smith most often?

By FEMA incident type: flood (8), severe storm (5), tornado (4) and severe ice storm (4).

New to Fort Smith? 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 Sebastian 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.