Every federal disaster in Knoxville since 1963
Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Knox County. Declarations make federal aid available after hurricanes, floods, storms, fires and other events, so this is a record of the big ones.
- Declarations
- 20since 1963
- Major disasters
- 15the most serious kind
- Since 2000
- 15declarations
- Most recent
- 2026Severe Winter Storm
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Knox County's overall natural hazard risk relatively moderate, led by lightning, tornado and winter weather. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.
All declarations
| Declared | Event | Type | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 6, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | Major disaster | DR-4898 |
| Jan 24, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | Emergency | EM-3635 |
| Apr 2, 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Emergency | EM-3625 |
| Sep 27, 2023 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado | Major disaster | DR-4742 |
| Mar 8, 2023 | Severe Winter Storm | Major disaster | DR-4691 |
| Apr 2, 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic | Major disaster | DR-4514 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3473 |
| Apr 17, 2019 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | Major disaster | DR-4427 |
| Jun 23, 2017 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4320 |
| Apr 2, 2015 | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4211 |
| Jul 20, 2011 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and | Major disaster | DR-4005 |
| May 1, 2011 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1974 |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Emergency | EM-3217 |
| May 8, 2003 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1464 |
| Jun 12, 2000 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1331 |
| Apr 20, 1998 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1215 |
| Mar 14, 1993 | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm | Emergency | EM-3095 |
| Apr 4, 1974 | Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-424 |
| Mar 21, 1973 | Heavy Rains & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-366 |
| Mar 27, 1963 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-151 |
Frequently asked questions
How many federal disasters has Knoxville had?
Since 1963, the federal government has issued 20 disaster or emergency declarations covering Knox County, including 15 major disaster declarations. 15 of them came in 2000 or later.
What was the most recent federal disaster in Knoxville?
Severe Winter Storm (Major disaster, declared February 6, 2026).
What kinds of disasters hit Knoxville most often?
By FEMA incident type: severe storm (8), flood (3), winter storm (3) and biological (2).
New to Knoxville? 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 Knox 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.