Every federal disaster in Manchester since 1953
Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Hillsborough County. Declarations make federal aid available after hurricanes, floods, storms, fires and other events, so this is a record of the big ones.
- Declarations
- 32since 1953
- Major disasters
- 20the most serious kind
- Since 2000
- 22declarations
- Most recent
- 2020COVID-19 Pandemic
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Hillsborough County's overall natural hazard risk relatively moderate, led by ice storm, winter weather and strong wind. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.
All declarations
| Declared | Event | Type | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic | Major disaster | DR-4516 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3445 |
| Mar 25, 2015 | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm | Major disaster | DR-4209 |
| Mar 19, 2013 | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm | Major disaster | DR-4105 |
| Oct 30, 2012 | Hurricane Sandy | Emergency | EM-3360 |
| Dec 5, 2011 | Severe Storm and Snowstorm | Major disaster | DR-4049 |
| Nov 1, 2011 | Severe Storm | Emergency | EM-3344 |
| Aug 27, 2011 | Hurricane Irene | Emergency | EM-3333 |
| May 12, 2010 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1913 |
| Mar 29, 2010 | Severe Winter Storm | Major disaster | DR-1892 |
| Jan 2, 2009 | Severe Winter Storm | Major disaster | DR-1812 |
| Dec 13, 2008 | Severe Winter Storm | Emergency | EM-3297 |
| Oct 3, 2008 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1799 |
| Apr 27, 2007 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1695 |
| May 25, 2006 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1643 |
| Oct 26, 2005 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1610 |
| Sep 19, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Emergency | EM-3258 |
| Apr 28, 2005 | Record Snow | Emergency | EM-3211 |
| Mar 30, 2005 | Record and/Or Near Record Snow | Emergency | EM-3207 |
| Jan 15, 2004 | Snow | Emergency | EM-3193 |
| Mar 11, 2003 | Snow | Emergency | EM-3177 |
| Mar 28, 2001 | Snow | Emergency | EM-3166 |
| Jul 2, 1998 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1231 |
| Jan 15, 1998 | Severe Ice Storm, Rains and High Winds | Major disaster | DR-1199 |
| Oct 29, 1996 | Fall Northeaster Rainstorm | Major disaster | DR-1144 |
| Mar 16, 1993 | Blizzards, High Winds & Record Snowfall | Emergency | EM-3101 |
| Sep 9, 1991 | Hurricane Bob & Severe Storms | Major disaster | DR-917 |
| Aug 29, 1990 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-876 |
| Apr 16, 1987 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-789 |
| Aug 27, 1986 | Severe Storms, Flooding | Major disaster | DR-771 |
| Jul 11, 1973 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-399 |
| Jul 2, 1953 | Forest Fire | Major disaster | DR-11 |
Frequently asked questions
How many federal disasters has Manchester had?
Since 1953, the federal government has issued 32 disaster or emergency declarations covering Hillsborough County, including 20 major disaster declarations. 22 of them came in 2000 or later.
What was the most recent federal disaster in Manchester?
COVID-19 Pandemic (Major disaster, declared April 3, 2020).
What kinds of disasters hit Manchester most often?
By FEMA incident type: severe storm (13), snowstorm (6), flood (5) and hurricane (4).
New to Manchester? 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 Hillsborough 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.