District of Columbia natural disasters & FEMA declarations
DC · 51st most declarations of 51 states/DC
District of Columbia has had 24 federally declared disasters since 1989, the 51st most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Severe Storm (9 declarations, about 38% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Sewer Line Collapse " (Other), on Feb 20, 2026.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for District of Columbia, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Storm | 9 | 38% |
| Hurricane | 6 | 25% |
| Other | 3 | 13% |
| Snowstorm | 3 | 13% |
| Biological | 2 | 8% |
| Earthquake | 1 | 4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Major Disaster (DR) | 15 |
| Emergency (EM) | 9 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How District of Columbia'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 |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 1 |
| 1990s | 3 |
| 2000s | 7 |
| 2010s | 9 |
| 2020s | 4 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 20, 2026 | Sewer Line Collapse | Other | EM-3643-DC |
| Jan 11, 2021 | 59th Presidential Inauguration | Other | EM-3553-DC |
| Mar 29, 2020 | Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | DR-4502-DC |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Covid-19 | Biological | EM-3447-DC |
| Mar 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | Snowstorm | DR-4260-DC |
| Dec 5, 2012 | Hurricane Sandy | Hurricane | DR-4096-DC |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near District of Columbia
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to District of Columbia in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has District of Columbia had?
District of Columbia has had 24 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1989, the 51st most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in District of Columbia?
The most common federally declared disaster type in District of Columbia is "Severe Storm", with 9 declarations — about 38% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in District of Columbia?
The most recent FEMA declaration in District of Columbia in this snapshot was "Sewer Line Collapse " (Other), declared Feb 20, 2026.
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