Massachusetts natural disasters & FEMA declarations
MA · 40th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Massachusetts has had 58 federally declared disasters since 1953, the 40th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Hurricane (12 declarations, about 21% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Storms And Flooding" (Flood), on May 15, 2024.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Massachusetts, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | 12 | 21% |
| Severe Storm | 12 | 21% |
| Snowstorm | 10 | 17% |
| Flood | 8 | 14% |
| Biological | 4 | 7% |
| Fire | 4 | 7% |
| Tornado | 2 | 3% |
| Coastal Storm | 2 | 3% |
| Terrorist | 1 | 2% |
| Other | 1 | 2% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 1 | 2% |
| Fishing Losses | 1 | 2% |
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) | 35 |
| Emergency (EM) | 22 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 1 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Massachusetts'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 | 3 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 3 |
| 1990s | 9 |
| 2000s | 14 |
| 2010s | 16 |
| 2020s | 8 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2024 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | DR-4780-MA |
| Sep 15, 2023 | Hurricane Lee | Hurricane | EM-3599-MA |
| Apr 18, 2022 | Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm | Snowstorm | DR-4651-MA |
| Aug 22, 2021 | Tropical Storm Henri | Hurricane | EM-3566-MA |
| Mar 27, 2020 | Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | DR-4496-MA |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Covid-19 | Biological | EM-3484-MA |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Massachusetts
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts had?
Massachusetts has had 58 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1953, the 40th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Massachusetts?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Massachusetts is "Hurricane", with 12 declarations — about 21% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Massachusetts?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Massachusetts in this snapshot was "Severe Storms And Flooding" (Flood), declared May 15, 2024.
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