California natural disasters & FEMA declarations
CA · 1st most declarations of 51 states/DC
California has had 395 federally declared disasters since 1954, the 1st most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Fire (297 declarations, about 75% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Chemical Release" (Chemical), on May 25, 2026. The largest recorded earthquake in or near California was magnitude 7.9.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for California, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Fire | 297 | 75% |
| Flood | 41 | 10% |
| Severe Storm | 23 | 6% |
| Earthquake | 14 | 4% |
| Hurricane | 3 | 1% |
| Dam/Levee Break | 3 | 1% |
| Freezing | 3 | 1% |
| Biological | 2 | 1% |
| Coastal Storm | 2 | 1% |
| Chemical | 1 | 0% |
| Tropical Storm | 1 | 0% |
| Winter Storm | 1 | 0% |
| Tsunami | 1 | 0% |
| Fishing Losses | 1 | 0% |
| Drought | 1 | 0% |
| Other | 1 | 0% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 261 |
| Major Disaster (DR) | 116 |
| Emergency (EM) | 18 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How California's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 4 |
| 1960s | 12 |
| 1970s | 16 |
| 1980s | 21 |
| 1990s | 20 |
| 2000s | 120 |
| 2010s | 118 |
| 2020s | 84 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25, 2026 | Chemical Release | Chemical | EM-3646-CA |
| May 20, 2026 | Bain Fire | Fire | FM-5636-CA |
| May 18, 2026 | Sandy Fire | Fire | FM-5635-CA |
| Sep 3, 2025 | 2-7 Fire | Fire | FM-5612-CA |
| Aug 8, 2025 | Canyon Fire | Fire | FM-5605-CA |
| Jan 8, 2025 | Wildfires And Straight-line Winds | Fire | DR-4856-CA |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near California
The strongest magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes attributed to California in the USGS catalog (1900–present). Locations are matched from the USGS event description.
| Magnitude | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| M7.9 | Apr 18, 1906 | The 1906 San Francisco, California Earthquake |
| M7.5 | Jul 21, 1952 | The 1952 Kern County, California Earthquake |
| M7.41 | Jan 31, 1922 | 123 km W of Big Lagoon, California |
| M7.3 | Jun 28, 1992 | The 1992 Landers, California Earthquake |
| M7.2 | Apr 25, 1992 | The 1992 Petrolia, California Earthquake |
Source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Data as of June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has California had?
California has had 395 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1954, the 1st most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in California?
The most common federally declared disaster type in California is "Fire", with 297 declarations — about 75% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in California?
The most recent FEMA declaration in California in this snapshot was "Chemical Release" (Chemical), declared May 25, 2026.
What is the biggest earthquake recorded in California?
The largest earthquake in or near California in the USGS magnitude-6.0+ catalog is a magnitude 7.9 event on Apr 18, 1906 (The 1906 San Francisco, California Earthquake).
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18