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Every federal disaster in Wichita since 1955

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

Declarations
25since 1955
Major disasters
18the most serious kind
Since 2000
13declarations
Most recent
2020COVID-19 Pandemic
19551957195819601965197019731973198019821990199119931998199819992000200220052005200720082009201020122016202020202020202020202020
Severe storms and tornadoes (11)Floods (6)Biological (COVID-19) (5)Other (1)Winter storms (1)Hurricanes and tropical storms (1)

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

All declarations

DeclaredEventTypeFEMA number
Mar 29, 2020COVID-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4504
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3481
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3491
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3492
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3490
Oct 20, 2016Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4287
May 24, 2012Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4063
Sep 30, 2009Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1860
Feb 1, 2008Severe Winter StormsMajor disasterDR-1741
Dec 12, 2007Severe Winter StormsEmergencyEM-3282
Sep 10, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3236
Feb 8, 2005Severe Winter Storms, Heavy Rains, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1579
Feb 6, 2002Severe Winter Ice StormMajor disasterDR-1402
May 4, 1999Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disasterDR-1273
Nov 5, 1998Ks-Flooding 10/31/98Major disasterDR-1258
Jun 9, 1998Debruce Grain Elevator Explosion (Sedgwick Cty)EmergencyEM-3126
Jul 22, 1993Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-1000
Apr 29, 1991Severe Storms & TornadoesMajor disasterDR-903
Jun 28, 1982Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-663
Sep 28, 1973Severe Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disasterDR-403
May 2, 1973Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-378
Jun 23, 1965FloodingMajor disasterDR-201
Nov 6, 1958FloodsMajor disasterDR-88
Sep 5, 1957FloodsMajor disasterDR-81
May 27, 1955TornadoMajor disasterDR-34

Frequently asked questions

How many federal disasters has Wichita had?

Since 1955, the federal government has issued 25 disaster or emergency declarations covering Sedgwick County, including 18 major disaster declarations. 13 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Wichita?

COVID-19 Pandemic (Major disaster, declared March 29, 2020).

What kinds of disasters hit Wichita most often?

By FEMA incident type: severe storm (8), flood (6), biological (5) and tornado (3).

New to Wichita? 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 Sedgwick 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.