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Every federal disaster in Yakima since 1956

Each square is a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or FEMA that covered Yakima 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 1956
Major disasters
25the most serious kind
Since 2000
33declarations
Most recent
2026Wildfires
1956195719601962196319641970197119741975197719771980198019901990199619961997200020002001200120032004200520092009200920102010201520152017201820182020202020202020202020202021202120212024202420242024202420252026202620262026
Fires (23)Floods (14)Severe storms and tornadoes (4)Biological (COVID-19) (3)Earthquakes and landslides (2)Other (1)Hurricanes and tropical storms (1)

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

All declarations

DeclaredEventTypeFEMA number
Aug 3, 2026WildfiresEmergencyEM-3650
Jul 26, 2026Signal Peak FireFire managementFM-5649
Jul 26, 2026Ransier FireFire managementFM-5651
Apr 7, 2026Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4906
Dec 12, 2025Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesEmergencyEM-3629
Nov 26, 2024WildfiresMajor disasterDR-4849
Sep 24, 2024WildfiresMajor disasterDR-4823
Jul 26, 2024Retreat FireFire managementFM-5521
Jul 23, 2024West White Swan FireFire managementFM-5517
Jun 23, 2024Slide Ranch FireFire managementFM-5499
Dec 21, 2021WildfiresMajor disasterDR-4631
Aug 19, 2021Schneider Springs FireFire managementFM-5415
Feb 4, 2021Wildfires and Straight-Line WindsMajor disasterDR-4584
Sep 1, 2020Evans Canyon FireFire managementFM-5342
Aug 17, 2020North Brownstown FireFire managementFM-5330
Mar 22, 2020COVID-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4481
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3507
Mar 13, 2020COVID-19EmergencyEM-3427
Aug 17, 2018FloodingMajor disasterDR-4384
Aug 11, 2018Hawk FireFire managementFM-5269
Jun 28, 2017South Wenas FireFire managementFM-5187
Oct 20, 2015Wildfires and MudslidesMajor disasterDR-4243
Aug 21, 2015WildfiresEmergencyEM-3372
Jul 19, 2010Cowiche Mills FireFire managementFM-2848
Aug 22, 2009Dry Creek Fire ComplexFire managementFM-2827
Mar 2, 2009Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record SnowMajor disasterDR-1825
Jan 30, 2009Severe Winter Storm, Landslides, Mudslides, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1817
Sep 7, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3227
Aug 12, 2004Mud Lake FireFire managementFM-2546
Jul 12, 2003Wa-Middle Fork Fire-07-12-2003Fire managementFM-2477
Aug 16, 2001Wa Spruce Dome Fire Complex 2377Fire managementFM-2377
Mar 1, 2001EarthquakeMajor disasterDR-1361
Aug 25, 2000Wa - Mule Dry Fire - 2000Fire managementFM-2323
Jan 17, 1997Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,FloodingMajor disasterDR-1159
Feb 9, 1996High Winds, Severe Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1100
Jan 3, 1996Severe Storms, High Wind, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1079
Nov 26, 1990Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-883
May 21, 1980Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. HelensMajor disasterDR-623
Dec 10, 1977Severe Storms,Mudslides, & FloodingMajor disasterDR-545
Mar 31, 1977DroughtEmergencyEM-3037
Dec 13, 1975Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-492
Jan 25, 1974Severe Storms, Snowmelt & FloodingMajor disasterDR-414
Feb 9, 1971Heavy Rains, Melting Snows & FloodingMajor disasterDR-300
Dec 29, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disasterDR-185
Mar 2, 1963FloodsMajor disasterDR-146
Oct 20, 1962Severe StormsMajor disasterDR-137
Mar 6, 1957FloodsMajor disasterDR-70
Feb 25, 1956FloodMajor disasterDR-50

Frequently asked questions

How many federal disasters has Yakima had?

Since 1956, the federal government has issued 48 disaster or emergency declarations covering Yakima County, including 25 major disaster declarations. 33 of them came in 2000 or later.

What was the most recent federal disaster in Yakima?

Wildfires (Emergency, declared August 3, 2026).

What kinds of disasters hit Yakima most often?

By FEMA incident type: fire (23), flood (14), severe storm (4) and biological (3).

New to Yakima? 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 Yakima 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.