Florida natural disasters & FEMA declarations
FL · 5th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Florida has had 188 federally declared disasters since 1954, the 5th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Fire (69 declarations, about 37% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Cow Creek Fire" (Fire), on Apr 23, 2026.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Florida, 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 | 69 | 37% |
| Hurricane | 59 | 31% |
| Severe Storm | 24 | 13% |
| Flood | 14 | 7% |
| Tropical Storm | 6 | 3% |
| Freezing | 6 | 3% |
| Biological | 4 | 2% |
| Other | 2 | 1% |
| Coastal Storm | 2 | 1% |
| Tornado | 1 | 1% |
| Human Cause | 1 | 1% |
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) | 86 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 67 |
| Emergency (EM) | 35 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Florida'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 | 1 |
| 1960s | 7 |
| 1970s | 11 |
| 1980s | 10 |
| 1990s | 48 |
| 2000s | 54 |
| 2010s | 20 |
| 2020s | 37 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2026 | Cow Creek Fire | Fire | FM-5632-FL |
| Apr 22, 2026 | Railroad Complex Fire | Fire | FM-5631-FL |
| Nov 5, 2024 | Hurricane Milton | Hurricane | DR-4844-FL |
| Oct 11, 2024 | Hurricane Milton | Hurricane | DR-4834-FL |
| Oct 8, 2024 | Hurricane Milton | Hurricane | EM-3623-FL |
| Oct 7, 2024 | Hurricane Milton | Hurricane | EM-3622-FL |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Florida
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Florida 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 Florida had?
Florida has had 188 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1954, the 5th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Florida?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Florida is "Fire", with 69 declarations — about 37% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Florida?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Florida in this snapshot was "Cow Creek Fire" (Fire), declared Apr 23, 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