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Every federal disaster in Visalia since 1954

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

Declarations
48since 1954
Major disasters
40the most serious kind
Since 2000
28declarations
Most recent
2024Severe Storms and Flooding
1954195519561958196019611962196219631963196419671969197019771978198019901991199319951997199819992000200520072010201120132015201620172017201720192019201920202020202020202020202320232023202320232023202320232023202320242024
Floods (16)Severe storms and tornadoes (13)Fires (7)Winter storms (4)Hurricanes and tropical storms (3)Other (2)Biological (COVID-19) (2)Earthquakes and landslides (1)

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

All declarations

DeclaredEventTypeFEMA number
Apr 19, 2024Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4772
Apr 19, 2024Severe Winter StormMajor disasterDR-4773
Oct 18, 2023Tropical Storm HilaryMajor disasterDR-4746
Sep 27, 2023Tropical Storm HilaryMajor disasterDR-4743
May 25, 2023Severe Storm and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4714
May 18, 2023Severe Winter Storm and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4713
Apr 25, 2023Severe Winter Storms and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4707
Apr 3, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4699
Mar 10, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesEmergencyEM-3592
Mar 8, 2023EarthquakeMajor disasterDR-4692
Jan 14, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4683
Jan 9, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesEmergencyEM-3591
Sep 13, 2020Sqf Fire ComplexFire managementFM-5373
Aug 22, 2020WildfiresMajor disasterDR-4558
Mar 22, 2020COVID-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4482
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3428
Apr 8, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4425
Mar 28, 2019Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4423
Mar 26, 2019Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4422
Sep 5, 2017Pier FireFire managementFM-5205
May 2, 2017FloodingMajor disasterDR-4312
Feb 14, 2017Severe Winter StormMajor disasterDR-4302
Aug 22, 2016Cedar FireFire managementFM-5150
Jan 27, 2015Severe Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4206
Aug 29, 2013WildfireMajor disasterDR-4142
Jan 26, 2011Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Debris and Mud FlowsMajor disasterDR-1952
Mar 13, 2007Severe FreezeMajor disasterDR-1689
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3248
Feb 9, 1999Ca-Citrus Crop Damage 2/2/99Major disasterDR-1267
Feb 9, 1998Severe Winter Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1203
Jan 4, 1997Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disasterDR-1155
Mar 12, 1995Severe Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud FlowMajor disasterDR-1046
Feb 3, 1993Severe Winter Storm, Mud & Land Slides, & FloodingMajor disasterDR-979
Feb 11, 1991Severe FreezeMajor disasterDR-894
Feb 15, 1978Coastal Storms, Mudslides & FloodingMajor disasterDR-547
Jan 20, 1977DroughtEmergencyEM-3023
Jan 26, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-253
Jan 2, 1967Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-223
Apr 1, 1964Seismic Sea WaveMajor disasterDR-169
Dec 21, 1963Flood Due to Broken DamMajor disasterDR-161
Feb 25, 1963Severe Storms, Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disasterDR-145
Oct 24, 1962Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-138
Mar 6, 1962FloodsMajor disasterDR-122
Nov 16, 1961Fire (Los Angeles County)Major disasterDR-119
Apr 4, 1958Heavy Rainstorms & FloodMajor disasterDR-82
Dec 29, 1956Forest FireMajor disasterDR-65
Dec 23, 1955FloodMajor disasterDR-47
Feb 5, 1954Flood & ErosionMajor disasterDR-15

Frequently asked questions

How many federal disasters has Visalia had?

Since 1954, the federal government has issued 48 disaster or emergency declarations covering Tulare County, including 40 major disaster declarations. 28 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Visalia?

Severe Storms and Flooding (Major disaster, declared April 19, 2024).

What kinds of disasters hit Visalia most often?

By FEMA incident type: flood (15), severe storm (13), fire (7) and freezing (3).

New to Visalia? 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 Tulare 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.