Every federal disaster in Worcester since 1953

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

Declarations: 39since 1953
Major disasters: 22the most serious kind
Since 2000: 28declarations
Most recent: 2026Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm

Hurricanes and tropical storms (11)Severe storms and tornadoes (10)Winter storms (9)Floods (4)Biological (COVID-19) (4)Fires (1)

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Worcester County's overall natural hazard risk relatively moderate, led by ice storm, hurricane and inland flooding. The history above shows what has actually happened; the risk index estimates what is likely.

All declarations

Declared	Event	Type	FEMA number
Jun 30, 2026	Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm	Major disaster	DR-4919
May 15, 2024	Severe Storms and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-4780
Sep 15, 2023	Hurricane Lee	Emergency	EM-3599
Aug 22, 2021	Tropical Storm Henri	Emergency	EM-3566
Mar 27, 2020	COVID-19 Pandemic	Major disaster	DR-4496
Mar 13, 2020	COVID-19	Emergency	EM-3438
Mar 13, 2020	COVID-19	Emergency	EM-3484
Mar 13, 2020	COVID-19	Emergency	EM-3497
Jul 19, 2018	Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm	Major disaster	DR-4379
Apr 13, 2015	Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-4214
Apr 19, 2013	Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-4110
Oct 28, 2012	Hurricane Sandy	Emergency	EM-3350
Jan 6, 2012	Severe Storm and Snowstorm	Major disaster	DR-4051
Nov 1, 2011	Severe Storm	Emergency	EM-3343
Aug 26, 2011	Hurricane Irene	Emergency	EM-3330
Jun 15, 2011	Severe Storms and Tornadoes	Major disaster	DR-1994
Sep 2, 2010	Hurricane Earl	Emergency	EM-3315
Mar 29, 2010	Severe Storms and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1895
Jan 5, 2009	Severe Winter Storm and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1813
Dec 13, 2008	Severe Winter Storm	Emergency	EM-3296
Nov 10, 2005	Severe Storms and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1614
Sep 13, 2005	Hurricane Katrina Evacuation	Emergency	EM-3252
Feb 17, 2005	Record and/Or Near Record Snow	Emergency	EM-3201
Apr 21, 2004	Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1512
Jan 15, 2004	Snow	Emergency	EM-3191
Mar 11, 2003	Snow	Emergency	EM-3175
Apr 10, 2001	Severe Storms and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1364
Mar 28, 2001	Snow	Emergency	EM-3165
Dec 6, 1999	Warehouse Fire.	Emergency	EM-3153
Jun 23, 1998	Heavy Rains and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-1224
Jan 24, 1996	Blizzard of 96	Major disaster	DR-1090
Mar 16, 1993	Blizzards, High Winds & Record Snowfall	Emergency	EM-3103
Dec 21, 1992	Winter Coastal Storm	Major disaster	DR-975
Aug 26, 1991	Hurricane Bob	Major disaster	DR-914
Apr 18, 1987	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-790
Oct 28, 1985	Hurricane Gloria	Major disaster	DR-751
Aug 20, 1955	Hurricane & Floods	Major disaster	DR-43
Sep 2, 1954	Hurricanes	Major disaster	DR-22
Jun 11, 1953	Tornado	Major disaster	DR-7

Frequently asked questions

How many federal disasters has Worcester had?

Since 1953, the federal government has issued 39 disaster or emergency declarations covering Worcester County, including 22 major disaster declarations. 28 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Worcester?

Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm (Major disaster, declared June 30, 2026).

What kinds of disasters hit Worcester most often?

By FEMA incident type: hurricane (10), severe storm (8), snowstorm (7) and flood (4).

New to Worcester? 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 Worcester 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.