Every federal disaster in Tyler since 1953
Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Smith 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 1953
- Major disasters
- 29the most serious kind
- Since 2000
- 25declarations
- Most recent
- 2024Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Smith County's overall natural hazard risk relatively moderate, led by winter weather, strong wind and lightning. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.
All declarations
| Declared | Event | Type | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 17, 2024 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4781 |
| Feb 19, 2021 | Severe Winter Storms | Major disaster | DR-4586 |
| Feb 14, 2021 | Severe Winter Storm | Emergency | EM-3554 |
| Aug 24, 2020 | Tropical Storms Marco and Laura | Emergency | EM-3540 |
| Mar 25, 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic | Major disaster | DR-4485 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3501 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3458 |
| Apr 25, 2016 | Severe Storms and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4269 |
| Nov 25, 2015 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4245 |
| May 29, 2015 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-4223 |
| Sep 9, 2011 | Wildfires | Major disaster | DR-4029 |
| Sep 13, 2008 | Hurricane Ike | Major disaster | DR-1791 |
| Sep 10, 2008 | Hurricane Ike | Emergency | EM-3294 |
| Aug 29, 2008 | Hurricane Gustav | Emergency | EM-3290 |
| Mar 14, 2008 | Wildfires | Emergency | EM-3284 |
| Aug 18, 2007 | Hurricane Dean | Emergency | EM-3277 |
| Jun 29, 2007 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding | Major disaster | DR-1709 |
| Jan 11, 2006 | Extreme Wildfire Threat | Major disaster | DR-1624 |
| Sep 24, 2005 | Hurricane Rita | Major disaster | DR-1606 |
| Sep 21, 2005 | Hurricane Rita | Emergency | EM-3261 |
| Sep 2, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Emergency | EM-3216 |
| Feb 1, 2003 | Loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia | Emergency | EM-3171 |
| Jun 9, 2001 | Tx-Tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001 | Major disaster | DR-1379 |
| Jan 8, 2001 | Severe Winter Ice Storm | Major disaster | DR-1356 |
| Sep 18, 2000 | Tx-Pine Cove Fire-9/18/00 | Fire management | FM-2340 |
| Sep 1, 1999 | Extreme Fire Hazards | Emergency | EM-3142 |
| Aug 26, 1998 | Tropical Storm Charley | Major disaster | DR-1239 |
| Jun 23, 1998 | Fire | Emergency | EM-3127 |
| Feb 23, 1996 | Extreme Fire Hazard | Emergency | EM-3117 |
| Dec 26, 1991 | Severe Thunderstorms | Major disaster | DR-930 |
| May 19, 1989 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-828 |
| Apr 23, 1989 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-823 |
| Nov 20, 1987 | Severe Storms & Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-802 |
| May 26, 1987 | Severe Storms & Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-793 |
| Jun 19, 1965 | Tornadoes & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-199 |
| Sep 24, 1963 | Hurricane Cindy | Major disaster | DR-159 |
| Sep 16, 1961 | Hurricane Carla | Major disaster | DR-118 |
| Jul 15, 1960 | Heavy Rains, Hail, Floods & Tornadoes | Major disaster | DR-103 |
| Jul 8, 1959 | Floods | Major disaster | DR-93 |
| Jun 6, 1958 | Tornadoes, Rain, Hail & Floods | Major disaster | DR-85 |
| Apr 29, 1957 | Hurricane, Rain, Wind, Hail & Floods | Major disaster | DR-72 |
| Jul 1, 1954 | Flood | Major disaster | DR-18 |
| Jun 19, 1953 | Flood | Major disaster | DR-9 |
| May 15, 1953 | Tornado & Heavy Rainfall | Major disaster | DR-2 |
Frequently asked questions
How many federal disasters has Tyler had?
Since 1953, the federal government has issued 44 disaster or emergency declarations covering Smith County, including 29 major disaster declarations. 25 of them came in 2000 or later.
What was the most recent federal disaster in Tyler?
Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (Major disaster, declared May 17, 2024).
What kinds of disasters hit Tyler most often?
By FEMA incident type: hurricane (11), flood (7), fire (7) and severe storm (6).
New to Tyler? 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 Smith 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.