Every federal disaster in Scranton since 1955

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

Declarations: 27since 1955
Major disasters: 22the most serious kind
Since 2000: 13declarations
Most recent: 2020COVID-19 Pandemic

Floods (10)Severe storms and tornadoes (9)Hurricanes and tropical storms (4)Winter storms (2)Biological (COVID-19) (2)

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Lackawanna County's overall natural hazard risk relatively moderate, led by inland flooding, winter weather and lightning. 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
Nov 27, 2018	Severe Storms and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-4408
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
Feb 23, 2007	Severe Storms and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1684
Jun 30, 2006	Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides	Major disaster	DR-1649
Sep 10, 2005	Hurricane Katrina	Emergency	EM-3235
Apr 14, 2005	Severe Storms and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1587
Sep 19, 2004	Tropical Depression Ivan	Major disaster	DR-1557
Sep 19, 2004	Severe Storms and Flooding Associated With Tropical Depression Frances	Major disaster	DR-1555
Aug 23, 2003	Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1485
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
Oct 8, 1985	Hurricane Gloria	Major disaster	DR-745
Oct 20, 1976	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-523
Jul 7, 1976	High Winds, Flash Floods	Major disaster	DR-513
Sep 26, 1975	Severe Storms, Heavy Rains & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-485
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 Scranton had?

Since 1955, the federal government has issued 27 disaster or emergency declarations covering Lackawanna County, including 22 major disaster declarations. 13 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Scranton?

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

What kinds of disasters hit Scranton most often?

By FEMA incident type: flood (10), severe storm (9), hurricane (4) and snowstorm (2).

New to Scranton? 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 Lackawanna 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.