Every federal disaster in Rockford since 1957
Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Winnebago County. Declarations make federal aid available after hurricanes, floods, storms, fires and other events, so this is a record of the big ones.
- Declarations
- 21since 1957
- Major disasters
- 14the most serious kind
- Since 2000
- 12declarations
- Most recent
- 2024Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Floodng
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Winnebago County's overall natural hazard risk relatively moderate, led by tornado, inland flooding and hail. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.
All declarations
| Declared | Event | Type | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 20, 2024 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Floodng | Major disaster | DR-4819 |
| Mar 26, 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic | Major disaster | DR-4489 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3435 |
| May 10, 2013 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4116 |
| Mar 17, 2011 | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm | Major disaster | DR-1960 |
| Aug 19, 2010 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1935 |
| Jun 24, 2008 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1771 |
| Mar 13, 2008 | Record Snow and Near Record Snow | Emergency | EM-3283 |
| Aug 30, 2007 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1722 |
| Dec 29, 2006 | Snow | Emergency | EM-3269 |
| Sep 7, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Emergency | EM-3230 |
| Jan 17, 2001 | Illinois Winter Snow Storms | Emergency | EM-3161 |
| Jan 8, 1999 | Il-Winter Storm 1/1/99 | Emergency | EM-3134 |
| Jul 25, 1996 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1129 |
| Jul 9, 1993 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-997 |
| Jan 16, 1979 | Blizzards & Snowstorms | Emergency | EM-3068 |
| Jun 10, 1974 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-438 |
| Apr 26, 1973 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-373 |
| Apr 25, 1967 | Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-227 |
| May 27, 1961 | Floods & Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-115 |
| Jun 22, 1957 | Floods | Major disaster | DR-78 |
Frequently asked questions
How many federal disasters has Rockford had?
Since 1957, the federal government has issued 21 disaster or emergency declarations covering Winnebago County, including 14 major disaster declarations. 12 of them came in 2000 or later.
What was the most recent federal disaster in Rockford?
Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Floodng (Major disaster, declared September 20, 2024).
What kinds of disasters hit Rockford most often?
By FEMA incident type: flood (7), snowstorm (6), severe storm (4) and biological (2).
New to Rockford? 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 Winnebago 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.