Every federal disaster in Joliet since 1957
Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Will County. Declarations make federal aid available after hurricanes, floods, storms, fires and other events, so this is a record of the big ones.
- Declarations
- 21since 1957
- Major disasters
- 16the most serious kind
- Since 2000
- 11declarations
- Most recent
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Floodng
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Will County's overall natural hazard risk relatively high, led by tornado, cold wave and inland flooding. 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 |
| Mar 26, 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic | Major disaster | DR-4489 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3435 |
| Nov 26, 2013 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-4157 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Apr 23, 2004 | Severe Storms and Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-1513 |
| Jan 17, 2001 | Illinois Winter Snow Storms | Emergency | EM-3161 |
| Jan 8, 1999 | Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99 | Emergency | EM-3134 |
| Jul 25, 1996 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1129 |
| Aug 29, 1990 | Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-878 |
| Mar 29, 1985 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-735 |
| Jun 30, 1981 | Severe Storms, Flooding & Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-643 |
| Jan 16, 1979 | Blizzards & Snowstorms | Emergency | EM-3068 |
| Jun 10, 1974 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-438 |
| 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 Joliet had?
Since 1957, the federal government has issued 21 disaster or emergency declarations covering Will County, including 16 major disaster declarations. 11 of them came in 2000 or later.
What was the most recent federal disaster in Joliet?
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Floodng (Major disaster, declared September 20, 2024).
What kinds of disasters hit Joliet most often?
By FEMA incident type: flood (6), severe storm (5), snowstorm (4) and tornado (3).
New to Joliet? 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 Will 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.