Every federal disaster in Wilmington since 1954
Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered New Hanover County. Declarations make federal aid available after hurricanes, floods, storms, fires and other events, so this is a record of the big ones.
- Declarations
- 40since 1954
- Major disasters
- 24the most serious kind
- Since 2000
- 25declarations
- Most recent
- 2026Severe Winter Storm
FEMA's National Risk Index rates New Hanover County's overall natural hazard risk relatively high, led by hurricane, lightning and tornado. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.
All declarations
| Declared | Event | Type | FEMA number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 24, 2026 | Severe Winter Storm | Emergency | EM-3637 |
| Oct 19, 2024 | Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight | Major disaster | DR-4837 |
| Sep 26, 2024 | Hurricane Helene | Emergency | EM-3617 |
| Aug 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm Debby | Emergency | EM-3608 |
| Oct 1, 2022 | Hurricane Ian | Emergency | EM-3586 |
| Oct 14, 2020 | Hurricane Isaias | Major disaster | DR-4568 |
| Aug 2, 2020 | Hurricane Isaias | Emergency | EM-3534 |
| Mar 25, 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic | Major disaster | DR-4487 |
| Mar 13, 2020 | COVID-19 | Emergency | EM-3471 |
| Oct 4, 2019 | Hurricane Dorian | Major disaster | DR-4465 |
| Sep 3, 2019 | Hurricane Dorian | Emergency | EM-3423 |
| Sep 14, 2018 | Hurricane Florence | Major disaster | DR-4393 |
| Sep 10, 2018 | Hurricane Florence | Emergency | EM-3401 |
| Oct 10, 2016 | Hurricane Matthew | Major disaster | DR-4285 |
| Oct 7, 2016 | Hurricane Matthew | Emergency | EM-3380 |
| Mar 1, 2013 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides | Major disaster | DR-4103 |
| Aug 31, 2011 | Hurricane Irene | Major disaster | DR-4019 |
| Aug 25, 2011 | Hurricane Irene | Emergency | EM-3327 |
| Oct 14, 2010 | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Straight-Line Winds | Major disaster | DR-1942 |
| Sep 1, 2010 | Hurricane Earl | Emergency | EM-3314 |
| Oct 8, 2008 | Tropical Storm Hanna | Major disaster | DR-1801 |
| Oct 7, 2005 | Hurricane Ophelia | Major disaster | DR-1608 |
| Sep 14, 2005 | Hurricane Ophelia | Emergency | EM-3254 |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Emergency | EM-3222 |
| Sep 18, 2003 | Hurricane Isabel | Major disaster | DR-1490 |
| Sep 16, 1999 | Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations | Major disaster | DR-1292 |
| Sep 15, 1999 | Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations | Emergency | EM-3146 |
| Sep 1, 1999 | Hurricane Dennis | Emergency | EM-3141 |
| Aug 27, 1998 | Hurricane Bonnie | Major disaster | DR-1240 |
| Sep 6, 1996 | Hurricane Fran | Major disaster | DR-1134 |
| Jul 18, 1996 | Hurricane Bertha | Major disaster | DR-1127 |
| Mar 17, 1993 | Severe Snowfall & Winter Storm | Emergency | EM-3110 |
| Sep 21, 1984 | Hurricane Diana | Major disaster | DR-724 |
| Oct 13, 1964 | Severe Storms & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-179 |
| Mar 16, 1962 | Severe Storm, High Tides & Flooding | Major disaster | DR-130 |
| Sep 16, 1960 | Hurricane Donna | Major disaster | DR-107 |
| Oct 1, 1958 | Hurricane & Severe Storm | Major disaster | DR-87 |
| Apr 24, 1956 | Severe Storm | Major disaster | DR-56 |
| Aug 13, 1955 | Hurricanes | Major disaster | DR-37 |
| Oct 17, 1954 | Hurricane | Major disaster | DR-28 |
Frequently asked questions
How many federal disasters has Wilmington had?
Since 1954, the federal government has issued 40 disaster or emergency declarations covering New Hanover County, including 24 major disaster declarations. 25 of them came in 2000 or later.
What was the most recent federal disaster in Wilmington?
Severe Winter Storm (Emergency, declared January 24, 2026).
What kinds of disasters hit Wilmington most often?
By FEMA incident type: hurricane (27), severe storm (3), tropical storm (3) and flood (2).
New to Wilmington? 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 New Hanover 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.