Every federal disaster in Pittsburgh since 1955
Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Allegheny County. Declarations make federal aid available after hurricanes, floods, storms, fires and other events, so this is a record of the big ones.
- Declarations
- 23since 1955
- Major disasters
- 18the most serious kind
- Since 2000
- 8declarations
- Most recent
- 2020COVID-19 Pandemic
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Allegheny County's overall natural hazard risk relatively high, led by inland flooding, ice storm and cold wave. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.
All declarations
| Declared | Event | Type | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 30, 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic | Major disaster | DR-4506 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3441 |
| Oct 1, 2013 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4149 |
| Oct 29, 2012 | Hurricane Sandy | Emergency | EM-3356 |
| Apr 16, 2010 | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorms | Major disaster | DR-1898 |
| Sep 10, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina | Emergency | EM-3235 |
| Sep 19, 2004 | Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances | Major disaster | DR-1555 |
| Sep 19, 2004 | Tropical Depression Ivan | Major disaster | DR-1557 |
| Jun 8, 1998 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes,and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1219 |
| Jan 21, 1996 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1093 |
| Jan 13, 1996 | Blizzard of 96 | Major disaster | DR-1085 |
| Mar 10, 1994 | Severe Winter Storms | Major disaster | DR-1015 |
| Mar 16, 1993 | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm | Emergency | EM-3105 |
| Jun 5, 1986 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-766 |
| Nov 9, 1985 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-754 |
| Aug 27, 1984 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-721 |
| Jun 13, 1980 | Severe Storms & Tornadoes | Emergency | EM-3081 |
| Jun 23, 1972 | Tropical Storm Agnes | Major disaster | DR-340 |
| Jan 23, 1959 | Floods | Major disaster | DR-89 |
| Aug 9, 1956 | Storm | Major disaster | DR-61 |
| May 21, 1956 | Severe Storm | Major disaster | DR-58 |
| Mar 15, 1956 | Flood | Major disaster | DR-51 |
| Aug 20, 1955 | Floods & Rains | Major disaster | DR-40 |
Frequently asked questions
How many federal disasters has Pittsburgh had?
Since 1955, the federal government has issued 23 disaster or emergency declarations covering Allegheny County, including 18 major disaster declarations. 8 of them came in 2000 or later.
What was the most recent federal disaster in Pittsburgh?
COVID-19 Pandemic (Major disaster, declared March 30, 2020).
What kinds of disasters hit Pittsburgh most often?
By FEMA incident type: flood (8), severe storm (6), snowstorm (3) and hurricane (3).
New to Pittsburgh? The moving checklist 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 Allegheny 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.