New York natural disasters & FEMA declarations
NY · 9th most declarations of 51 states/DC
New York has had 118 federally declared disasters since 1955, the 9th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Severe Storm (31 declarations, about 26% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Jennings Creek Fire" (Fire), on Nov 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 New York, 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 | 31 | 26% |
| Flood | 27 | 23% |
| Snowstorm | 21 | 18% |
| Hurricane | 17 | 14% |
| Fire | 4 | 3% |
| Biological | 4 | 3% |
| Tropical Storm | 2 | 2% |
| Winter Storm | 2 | 2% |
| Other | 2 | 2% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 2 | 2% |
| Toxic Substances | 2 | 2% |
| Tornado | 1 | 1% |
| Earthquake | 1 | 1% |
| Human Cause | 1 | 1% |
| Drought | 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) | 85 |
| Emergency (EM) | 30 |
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 3 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How New York'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 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 15 |
| 1980s | 8 |
| 1990s | 19 |
| 2000s | 29 |
| 2010s | 18 |
| 2020s | 21 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 2024 | Jennings Creek Fire | Fire | FM-5547-NY |
| Oct 21, 2024 | Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4839-NY |
| Sep 24, 2024 | Remnants Of Tropical Storm Debby | Tropical Storm | DR-4825-NY |
| Sep 20, 2024 | Severe Storm And Flooding | Tropical Storm | DR-4818-NY |
| Aug 29, 2024 | Severe Storm, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Flood | DR-4814-NY |
| Aug 25, 2024 | Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | EM-3613-NY |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near New York
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to New York 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 New York had?
New York has had 118 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1955, the 9th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in New York?
The most common federally declared disaster type in New York is "Severe Storm", with 31 declarations — about 26% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in New York?
The most recent FEMA declaration in New York in this snapshot was "Jennings Creek Fire" (Fire), declared Nov 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