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Every federal disaster in Modesto since 1954

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

Declarations
45since 1954
Major disasters
39the most serious kind
Since 2000
27declarations
Most recent
2024Severe Storms and Flooding
1954195519561958196019611962196219631963196419641969197019771980198319901991199519971998200020052006200720102013201520172017201720192019201920202020202020202020202320232023202320232023202320232023202320242024
Floods (14)Severe storms and tornadoes (14)Fires (5)Hurricanes and tropical storms (4)Winter storms (3)Other (2)Biological (COVID-19) (2)Earthquakes and landslides (1)

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Stanislaus County's overall natural hazard risk relatively high, led by drought, inland flooding and earthquake. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.

All declarations

DeclaredEventTypeFEMA number
Apr 19, 2024Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4772
Apr 19, 2024Severe Winter StormMajor disasterDR-4773
Oct 18, 2023Tropical Storm HilaryMajor disasterDR-4746
Sep 27, 2023Tropical Storm HilaryMajor disasterDR-4743
May 25, 2023Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4714
May 18, 2023Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4713
Apr 25, 2023Severe Winter Storms and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4707
Apr 3, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4699
Mar 10, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesEmergencyEM-3592
Mar 8, 2023EarthquakeMajor disasterDR-4692
Jan 14, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4683
Jan 9, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesEmergencyEM-3591
Aug 22, 2020WildfiresMajor disasterDR-4558
Aug 21, 2020Scu Ligtning Complex FireFire managementFM-5338
Mar 22, 2020COVID-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4482
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3428
Apr 8, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4425
Mar 28, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4423
Mar 26, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4422
May 2, 2017FloodingMajor disasterDR-4312
Apr 1, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4308
Feb 14, 2017Severe Winter StormMajor disasterDR-4302
Jan 27, 2015Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4206
Aug 29, 2013WildfireMajor disasterDR-4142
Mar 13, 2007Severe FreezeMajor disasterDR-1689
Jun 5, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-1646
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3248
Feb 9, 1998Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1203
Jan 4, 1997Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disasterDR-1155
Mar 12, 1995Severe Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud FlowMajor disasterDR-1046
Feb 11, 1991Severe FreezeMajor disasterDR-894
Feb 9, 1983Coastal Storms, Floods, Slides & TornadoesMajor disasterDR-677
Jan 20, 1977DroughtEmergencyEM-3023
Jan 26, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-253
Dec 24, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disasterDR-183
Apr 1, 1964Seismic Sea WaveMajor disasterDR-169
Dec 21, 1963Flood Due to Broken DamMajor disasterDR-161
Feb 25, 1963Severe Storms, Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disasterDR-145
Oct 24, 1962Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-138
Mar 6, 1962FloodsMajor disasterDR-122
Nov 16, 1961Fire (Los Angeles County)Major disasterDR-119
Apr 4, 1958Heavy Rainstorms & FloodMajor disasterDR-82
Dec 29, 1956Forest FireMajor disasterDR-65
Dec 23, 1955FloodMajor disasterDR-47
Feb 5, 1954Flood & ErosionMajor disasterDR-15

Frequently asked questions

How many federal disasters has Modesto had?

Since 1954, the federal government has issued 45 disaster or emergency declarations covering Stanislaus County, including 39 major disaster declarations. 27 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Modesto?

Severe Storms and Flooding (Major disaster, declared April 19, 2024).

What kinds of disasters hit Modesto most often?

By FEMA incident type: severe storm (14), flood (13), fire (5) and freezing (2).

New to Modesto? 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 Stanislaus 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.