Pennsylvania natural disasters & FEMA declarations
PA · 34th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Pennsylvania has had 64 federally declared disasters since 1955, the 34th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Flood (26 declarations, about 41% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Tropical Storm Debby" (Tropical Storm), on Sep 11, 2024.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Pennsylvania, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Flood | 26 | 41% |
| Severe Storm | 17 | 27% |
| Hurricane | 9 | 14% |
| Snowstorm | 5 | 8% |
| Biological | 2 | 3% |
| Tornado | 2 | 3% |
| Tropical Storm | 1 | 2% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 1 | 2% |
| Drought | 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) | 54 |
| Emergency (EM) | 10 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Pennsylvania'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 | 5 |
| 1960s | 2 |
| 1970s | 9 |
| 1980s | 8 |
| 1990s | 12 |
| 2000s | 11 |
| 2010s | 13 |
| 2020s | 4 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 11, 2024 | Tropical Storm Debby | Tropical Storm | DR-4815-PA |
| Sep 10, 2021 | Remnants Of Hurricane Ida | Hurricane | DR-4618-PA |
| Mar 30, 2020 | Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | DR-4506-PA |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Covid-19 | Biological | EM-3441-PA |
| Nov 27, 2018 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4408-PA |
| Dec 2, 2016 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | DR-4292-PA |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Pennsylvania
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania had?
Pennsylvania has had 64 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1955, the 34th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Pennsylvania?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Pennsylvania is "Flood", with 26 declarations — about 41% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Pennsylvania?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Pennsylvania in this snapshot was "Tropical Storm Debby" (Tropical Storm), declared Sep 11, 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