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Every federal disaster in Tuscaloosa since 1961

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

Declarations
31since 1961
Major disasters
20the most serious kind
Since 2000
22declarations
Most recent
2024Hurricane Helene
19601961197019731974197519771979198019901990199319982000200020002001200220032004200520052005200820102011201120142017201720202020202020202020202020212024
Severe storms and tornadoes (13)Hurricanes and tropical storms (9)Biological (COVID-19) (4)Floods (3)Other (1)Winter storms (1)

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Tuscaloosa County's overall natural hazard risk relatively moderate, led by tornado, strong wind and lightning. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.

All declarations

DeclaredEventTypeFEMA number
Sep 26, 2024Hurricane HeleneEmergencyEM-3618
Mar 28, 2021COVID-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4591
Sep 14, 2020Hurricane SallyEmergencyEM-3545
May 21, 2020Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4546
Mar 29, 2020COVID-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4503
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3528
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3472
Oct 8, 2017Hurricane NateEmergencyEM-3394
Sep 11, 2017Hurricane IrmaEmergencyEM-3389
May 2, 2014Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4176
Apr 28, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1971
Apr 27, 2011Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsEmergencyEM-3319
Aug 30, 2008Hurricane GustavEmergencyEM-3292
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3237
Aug 29, 2005Hurricane KatrinaMajor disasterDR-1605
Jul 10, 2005Hurricane DennisMajor disasterDR-1593
Sep 15, 2004Hurricane IvanMajor disasterDR-1549
May 12, 2003Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1466
Nov 14, 2002Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disasterDR-1442
Mar 5, 2001Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1362
Dec 18, 2000Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disasterDR-1352
Mar 17, 2000Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1322
Apr 9, 1998Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disasterDR-1214
Mar 15, 1993Severe Snowfall, Winter StormEmergencyEM-3096
Feb 17, 1990Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disasterDR-856
Apr 18, 1979Storms, Wind, FloodingMajor disasterDR-578
Jul 20, 1977DroughtEmergencyEM-3045
Mar 14, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-458
Apr 4, 1974TornadoesMajor disasterDR-422
Mar 27, 1973Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disasterDR-369
Feb 27, 1961FloodsMajor disasterDR-109

Frequently asked questions

How many federal disasters has Tuscaloosa had?

Since 1961, the federal government has issued 31 disaster or emergency declarations covering Tuscaloosa County, including 20 major disaster declarations. 22 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Tuscaloosa?

Hurricane Helene (Emergency, declared September 26, 2024).

What kinds of disasters hit Tuscaloosa most often?

By FEMA incident type: severe storm (11), hurricane (9), biological (4) and flood (3).

New to Tuscaloosa? 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 Tuscaloosa 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.