Every federal disaster in Seattle since 1956

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

Declarations: 44since 1956
Major disasters: 39the most serious kind
Since 2000: 23declarations
Most recent: 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

Floods (21)Severe storms and tornadoes (12)Fires (4)Earthquakes and landslides (3)Biological (COVID-19) (3)Hurricanes and tropical storms (1)

FEMA's National Risk Index rates King County's overall natural hazard risk very high, led by inland flooding, earthquake and avalanche. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.

All declarations

Declared	Event	Type	FEMA number
Apr 7, 2026	Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides	Major disaster	DR-4906
Dec 12, 2025	Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides	Emergency	EM-3629
Nov 26, 2024	Wildfires	Major disaster	DR-4849
Sep 24, 2024	Wildfires	Major disaster	DR-4823
Apr 28, 2024	Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides	Major disaster	DR-4775
Sep 10, 2022	Bolt Creek Fire	Fire management	FM-5455
Dec 21, 2021	Wildfires	Major disaster	DR-4631
Apr 23, 2020	Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides	Major disaster	DR-4539
Mar 22, 2020	COVID-19 Pandemic	Major disaster	DR-4481
Mar 13, 2020	COVID-19	Emergency	EM-3507
Mar 13, 2020	COVID-19	Emergency	EM-3427
Aug 17, 2018	Flooding	Major disaster	DR-4384
Apr 21, 2017	Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides	Major disaster	DR-4309
Mar 5, 2012	Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides	Major disaster	DR-4056
Mar 25, 2011	Severe Winter Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides	Major disaster	DR-1963
Mar 2, 2009	Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow	Major disaster	DR-1825
Jan 30, 2009	Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1817
Dec 8, 2007	Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides	Major disaster	DR-1734
Feb 14, 2007	Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, and Mudslides	Major disaster	DR-1682
Dec 12, 2006	Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides	Major disaster	DR-1671
Sep 7, 2005	Hurricane Katrina Evacuation	Emergency	EM-3227
Nov 7, 2003	Severe Storms and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1499
Mar 1, 2001	Earthquake	Major disaster	DR-1361
Apr 2, 1997	Heavy Rains, Snow Melt, Flooding, Land & Mud Slides	Major disaster	DR-1172
Jan 17, 1997	Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1159
Feb 9, 1996	High Winds, Severe Storms and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1100
Jan 3, 1996	Severe Storms, High Wind, and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1079
Mar 4, 1993	Severe Storms & High Wind	Major disaster	DR-981
Mar 8, 1991	Severe Storms & High Tides	Major disaster	DR-896
Nov 26, 1990	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-883
Jan 18, 1990	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-852
Dec 15, 1986	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-784
Feb 15, 1986	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-757
May 21, 1980	Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. Helens	Major disaster	DR-623
Dec 31, 1979	Storms, High Tides, Mudslides & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-612
Dec 10, 1977	Severe Storms,Mudslides, & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-545
Dec 13, 1975	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-492
Mar 24, 1972	Heavy Rains & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-328
May 11, 1965	Earthquake	Major disaster	DR-196
Dec 29, 1964	Heavy Rains & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-185
Mar 2, 1963	Floods	Major disaster	DR-146
Oct 20, 1962	Severe Storms	Major disaster	DR-137
Mar 6, 1957	Floods	Major disaster	DR-70
Feb 25, 1956	Flood	Major disaster	DR-50

Frequently asked questions

How many federal disasters has Seattle had?

Since 1956, the federal government has issued 44 disaster or emergency declarations covering King County, including 39 major disaster declarations. 23 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Seattle?

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (Major disaster, declared April 7, 2026).

What kinds of disasters hit Seattle most often?

By FEMA incident type: flood (21), severe storm (12), fire (4) and biological (3).

New to Seattle? 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 King 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.