Every federal disaster in Reading since 1955

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

Declarations: 28since 1955
Major disasters: 22the most serious kind
Since 2000: 13declarations
Most recent: 2020COVID-19 Pandemic

Floods (9)Severe storms and tornadoes (9)Hurricanes and tropical storms (4)Winter storms (3)Biological (COVID-19) (2)Other (1)

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Berks County's overall natural hazard risk relatively moderate, led by winter weather, tornado and inland flooding. 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
Mar 23, 2016	Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm	Major disaster	DR-4267
Oct 29, 2012	Hurricane Sandy	Emergency	EM-3356
Sep 12, 2011	Tropical Storm Lee	Major disaster	DR-4030
Sep 8, 2011	Remnants of Tropical Storm Lee	Emergency	EM-3340
Jun 30, 2006	Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides	Major disaster	DR-1649
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
Aug 6, 2004	Severe Storms and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1538
Mar 14, 2003	Snow	Emergency	EM-3180
Jun 21, 2001	Tropical Storm Allison	Major disaster	DR-1383
Sep 18, 1999	Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations	Major disaster	DR-1294
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
Sep 26, 1975	Severe Storms, Heavy Rains & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-485
Jul 17, 1973	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-400
Jun 23, 1972	Tropical Storm Agnes	Major disaster	DR-340
Aug 18, 1965	Water Shortage	Major disaster	DR-206
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 Reading had?

Since 1955, the federal government has issued 28 disaster or emergency declarations covering Berks County, including 22 major disaster declarations. 13 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Reading?

COVID-19 Pandemic (Major disaster, declared March 30, 2020).

What kinds of disasters hit Reading most often?

By FEMA incident type: flood (9), severe storm (9), hurricane (4) and snowstorm (3).

New to Reading? 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 Berks 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.