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Every federal disaster in Missoula since 1953

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

Declarations
29since 1953
Major disasters
18the most serious kind
Since 2000
21declarations
Most recent
2026Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds
195319601964196419701974197719801981199019961997200020002000200120032005200720072010201120132017201720182020202020202020202420242025202620262026
Severe storms and tornadoes (8)Fires (8)Floods (6)Biological (COVID-19) (3)Winter storms (2)Other (1)Hurricanes and tropical storms (1)

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Missoula County's overall natural hazard risk relatively low, led by ice storm, cold wave and avalanche. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.

All declarations

DeclaredEventTypeFEMA number
May 29, 2026Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disasterDR-4915
May 29, 2026Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disasterDR-4914
Apr 7, 2026Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disasterDR-4902
Sep 11, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4887
Nov 14, 2024Severe Storm and Straight-Line WindsMajor disasterDR-4847
Aug 23, 2024Straight-Line WindsMajor disasterDR-4813
Mar 31, 2020COVID-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4508
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3516
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3476
Oct 31, 2018FloodingMajor disasterDR-4405
Sep 9, 2017Rice Ridge FireFire managementFM-5207
Aug 17, 2017Lolo Peak FireFire managementFM-5197
Aug 19, 2013Lolo Creek Fire ComplexFire managementFM-5047
Jun 17, 2011Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1996
Aug 16, 2007Black Cat FireFire managementFM-2721
Aug 4, 2007Jocko Lakes FireFire managementFM-2718
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3253
Aug 12, 2003Mt-Missoula/Mineral Fire Zone-08/08/03Fire managementFM-2490
Jul 7, 2001Severe Winter StormsMajor disasterDR-1385
Aug 30, 2000WildfiresMajor disasterDR-1340
Aug 5, 2000Mt-Southwestern Zone Two Fire ComplexFire managementFM-2317
Jul 25, 1997Severe Storms,Ice Jams, Snow Melt, FloodingMajor disasterDR-1183
Feb 23, 1996Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ice JamsMajor disasterDR-1105
May 27, 1981Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-640
Aug 22, 1977DroughtEmergencyEM-3050
Jan 29, 1974Severe Storms, Flooding & LandslidesMajor disasterDR-417
Dec 18, 1964Severe Winter StormMajor disasterDR-182
Jun 9, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disasterDR-172
Jun 6, 1953FloodsMajor disasterDR-5

Frequently asked questions

How many federal disasters has Missoula had?

Since 1953, the federal government has issued 29 disaster or emergency declarations covering Missoula County, including 18 major disaster declarations. 21 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Missoula?

Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds (Major disaster, declared May 29, 2026).

What kinds of disasters hit Missoula most often?

By FEMA incident type: fire (8), flood (6), severe storm (5) and biological (3).

New to Missoula? 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 Missoula 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.