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Every federal disaster in Rochester since 1954

Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Monroe 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 1954
Major disasters
19the most serious kind
Since 2000
14declarations
Most recent
2024Severe Storm and Flooding
195419551956196019621963197019721973197419761980199019911993199819981998199920002000200120032003200420042005201020122017202020202020202020202024
Floods (7)Winter storms (6)Hurricanes and tropical storms (5)Severe storms and tornadoes (4)Biological (COVID-19) (4)Other (2)Fires (1)

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Monroe County's overall natural hazard risk relatively moderate, led by inland flooding, winter weather and ice storm. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.

All declarations

DeclaredEventTypeFEMA number
Sep 20, 2024Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4818
Mar 20, 2020COVID-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4480
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3504
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3557
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3434
Nov 14, 2017FloodingMajor disasterDR-4348
Oct 28, 2012Hurricane SandyEmergencyEM-3351
Sep 30, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3262
Oct 1, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1564
Aug 3, 2004Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1534
Aug 23, 2003Power OutageEmergencyEM-3186
May 12, 2003Ice StormMajor disasterDR-1467
Sep 11, 2001Fires and ExplosionsMajor disasterDR-1391
Oct 11, 2000West Nile VirusEmergencyEM-3155
Mar 10, 1999SnowEmergencyEM-3138
Sep 11, 1998Ny - Severe Wx, Sept 7, 1998Major disasterDR-1244
Jul 7, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1233
Jan 6, 1998Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1196
Mar 17, 1993Severe BlizzardEmergencyEM-3107
Mar 21, 1991Severe Winter StormMajor disasterDR-898
Mar 19, 1976Ice Storm,Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-494
Nov 2, 1974Floodng (Nys Barge Canal)EmergencyEM-3004
Mar 21, 1973High Winds, Wave Action & FloodingMajor disasterDR-367
Jun 23, 1972Tropical Storm AgnesMajor disasterDR-338
Aug 23, 1963Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disasterDR-158
Mar 16, 1962Severe Storm, High Tides & FloodingMajor disasterDR-129
Mar 29, 1956FloodMajor disasterDR-52
Aug 22, 1955Hurricane & FloodsMajor disasterDR-45
Oct 7, 1954HurricanesMajor disasterDR-26

Frequently asked questions

How many federal disasters has Rochester had?

Since 1954, the federal government has issued 29 disaster or emergency declarations covering Monroe County, including 19 major disaster declarations. 14 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Rochester?

Severe Storm and Flooding (Major disaster, declared September 20, 2024).

What kinds of disasters hit Rochester most often?

By FEMA incident type: flood (7), hurricane (4), snowstorm (4) and severe storm (4).

New to Rochester? 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 Monroe 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.