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Every federal disaster in Sparks since 1954

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

Declarations
61since 1954
Major disasters
14the most serious kind
Since 2000
51declarations
Most recent
2026Bull Fire
19541955195519561960196219631965197019801986199019971999200020002000200120032003200420042004200520052005200620062006200620072007200720092010201120122014201620162016201720172017201920192020202020202020202020202020202020222024202420242024202420252025202620262026202620262026
Fires (43)Floods (8)Severe storms and tornadoes (4)Winter storms (2)Biological (COVID-19) (2)Earthquakes and landslides (1)Hurricanes and tropical storms (1)

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

All declarations

DeclaredEventTypeFEMA number
Oct 2, 2026Bull FireFire managementFM-5678
Sep 1, 2026Hawk FireEmergencyEM-3653
Aug 22, 2026Hawk FireFire managementFM-5674
Aug 11, 2026Fred Mountain FireFire managementFM-5667
Aug 11, 2026Stallion FireFire managementFM-5668
Aug 8, 2026Bug FireFire managementFM-5663
Aug 2, 2025Peavine FireFire managementFM-5602
Jun 10, 2025Marie FireFire managementFM-5586
Nov 11, 2024Callahan FireFire managementFM-5546
Sep 7, 2024Davis FireFire managementFM-5533
Aug 12, 2024Gold Ranch FireFire managementFM-5530
Jun 12, 2024Sullivan FireFire managementFM-5495
Jun 11, 2024Trail FireFire managementFM-5494
Aug 14, 2022Joy Lake FireFire managementFM-5448
Nov 17, 2020Pinehaven FireFire managementFM-5382
Aug 15, 2020Loyalton FireFire managementFM-5328
Aug 3, 2020North FireFire managementFM-5326
Jul 21, 2020Rockfarm FireFire managementFM-5322
Jun 27, 2020Poeville Road FireFire managementFM-5316
Apr 4, 2020COVID-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4523
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3443
Aug 24, 2019Long Valley FireFire managementFM-5291
Jul 13, 2019Jasper FireFire managementFM-5283
Jul 14, 2017Cold Springs FireFire managementFM-5190
Mar 27, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4307
Feb 17, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4303
Oct 14, 2016Little Valley FireFire managementFM-5156
Jul 31, 2016Virginia Mountains Complex FireFire managementFM-5141
Jul 29, 2016Rock FireFire managementFM-5138
Nov 5, 2014Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4202
Jan 19, 2012Washoe FireFire managementFM-2974
Nov 18, 2011Caughlin FireFire managementFM-2973
Jul 17, 2009Red Rock FireFire managementFM-2822
Jul 16, 2007Hawken FireFire managementFM-2713
Jul 8, 2007Hungry Valley FireFire managementFM-2709
Jul 6, 2007Red Rock FireFire managementFM-2704
Nov 11, 2006Pinehaven FireFire managementFM-2679
Aug 12, 2006Verdi FireFire managementFM-2664
Jun 27, 2006Oregon FireFire managementFM-2649
Feb 3, 2006Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1629
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3243
Feb 23, 2005SnowEmergencyEM-3204
Feb 17, 2005Record and/Or Near Record SnowEmergencyEM-3202
Aug 25, 2004Andrew WildfireFire managementFM-2550
Jul 14, 2004Waterfall FireFire managementFM-2531
Jun 30, 2004Verdi Fire ComplexFire managementFM-2524
Jul 15, 2003Nv-Robb Wildfire-7-14-2003Fire managementFM-2479
Jul 11, 2003Nv-Red Rock Fire 7-11-03Fire managementFM-2476
Aug 9, 2001Nv - Antelope Fire - 08/09/2001Fire managementFM-2371
Aug 1, 2000Nv - Arrowcreek FireFire managementFM-2316
Jun 30, 2000Reno Fire ComplexFire managementFM-2312
Jul 3, 1999Mira Loma FireFire managementFM-2265
Jan 3, 1997Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disasterDR-1153
Feb 28, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-759
Jan 18, 1965Severe Storms, Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disasterDR-187
Feb 14, 1963FloodsMajor disasterDR-142
Feb 22, 1962FloodsMajor disasterDR-121
Aug 31, 1956FloodMajor disasterDR-63
Dec 24, 1955FloodMajor disasterDR-48
Jun 21, 1955FloodMajor disasterDR-36
Jul 14, 1954EarthquakeMajor disasterDR-19

Frequently asked questions

How many federal disasters has Sparks had?

Since 1954, the federal government has issued 61 disaster or emergency declarations covering Washoe County, including 14 major disaster declarations. 51 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Sparks?

Bull Fire (Fire management, declared October 2, 2026).

What kinds of disasters hit Sparks most often?

By FEMA incident type: fire (43), flood (8), severe storm (4) and snowstorm (2).

New to Sparks? 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 Washoe 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.