Texas natural disasters & FEMA declarations
TX · 2nd most declarations of 51 states/DC
Texas has had 388 federally declared disasters since 1953, the 2nd most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Fire (270 declarations, about 70% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Stinky Fire" (Fire), on May 18, 2026.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Texas, 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 | 270 | 70% |
| Flood | 43 | 11% |
| Hurricane | 25 | 6% |
| Severe Storm | 20 | 5% |
| Tornado | 15 | 4% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 3 | 1% |
| Biological | 3 | 1% |
| Other | 3 | 1% |
| Coastal Storm | 2 | 1% |
| Freezing | 2 | 1% |
| Winter Storm | 1 | 0% |
| Drought | 1 | 0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 263 |
| Major Disaster (DR) | 107 |
| Emergency (EM) | 18 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Texas'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 | 6 |
| 1960s | 9 |
| 1970s | 18 |
| 1980s | 19 |
| 1990s | 118 |
| 2000s | 102 |
| 2010s | 82 |
| 2020s | 34 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 18, 2026 | Stinky Fire | Fire | FM-5634-TX |
| May 14, 2026 | Hunggate Fire | Fire | FM-5633-TX |
| Mar 15, 2026 | Corner Pocket Fire | Fire | FM-5625-TX |
| Feb 18, 2026 | 8 Ball Fire | Fire | FM-5619-TX |
| Jul 6, 2025 | Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Flooding | Flood | DR-4879-TX |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | DR-4871-TX |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Texas
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Texas 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 Texas had?
Texas has had 388 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1953, the 2nd most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Texas?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Texas is "Fire", with 270 declarations — about 70% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Texas?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Texas in this snapshot was "Stinky Fire" (Fire), declared May 18, 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