Vermont natural disasters & FEMA declarations
VT · 36th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Vermont has had 62 federally declared disasters since 1964, the 36th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Severe Storm (29 declarations, about 47% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides" (Flood), on Sep 26, 2024.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Vermont, 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 | 29 | 47% |
| Flood | 22 | 35% |
| Hurricane | 3 | 5% |
| Biological | 2 | 3% |
| Severe Ice Storm | 2 | 3% |
| Drought | 2 | 3% |
| Tropical Storm | 1 | 2% |
| Snowstorm | 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) | 55 |
| Emergency (EM) | 7 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Vermont'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 |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 3 |
| 1970s | 3 |
| 1980s | 2 |
| 1990s | 9 |
| 2000s | 13 |
| 2010s | 17 |
| 2020s | 15 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 26, 2024 | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | DR-4826-VT |
| Sep 11, 2024 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Flood | DR-4816-VT |
| Aug 20, 2024 | Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Severe Storm | DR-4810-VT |
| Aug 8, 2024 | Tropical Depression Debby | Tropical Storm | EM-3609-VT |
| Apr 19, 2024 | Severe Winter Storm | Severe Storm | DR-4770-VT |
| Mar 2, 2024 | Severe Storm And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4762-VT |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Vermont
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Vermont 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 Vermont had?
Vermont has had 62 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1964, the 36th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Vermont?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Vermont is "Severe Storm", with 29 declarations — about 47% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Vermont?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Vermont in this snapshot was "Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides" (Flood), declared Sep 26, 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