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Natural Disasters in District of Columbia: History & Risk Data

1,953 recorded disaster events across 23 ZIP codes.

State Statistics

1,953
Total Events
$3B
Total Damage
99
Total Deaths
23
ZIP Codes

Event Timeline

0631261892521956: 2 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage19561959: 2 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1968: 9 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1970: 1 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1971: 5 events, 0 deaths, $1.3M damage19711973: 2 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1975: 20 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1976: 17 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1978: 9 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage19781979: 1 events, 1 deaths, $2.5M damage1980: 28 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1984: 1 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1985: 17 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage19851987: 17 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1988: 17 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1990: 6 events, 0 deaths, $7.5M damage1991: 15 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage19911992: 18 events, 0 deaths, $17.5M damage1995: 7 events, 0 deaths, $35.0M damage1996: 65 events, 0 deaths, $16.8M damage1997: 43 events, 0 deaths, $0.2M damage19971998: 23 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage1999: 20 events, 0 deaths, $0.4M damage2000: 48 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage2001: 33 events, 44 deaths, $2200.1M damage20012002: 5 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage2003: 105 events, 20 deaths, $20.2M damage2004: 79 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage2005: 7 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage20052006: 7 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage2008: 60 events, 20 deaths, $0.8M damage2009: 20 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage2010: 145 events, 0 deaths, $1.0M damage20102011: 90 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage2012: 53 events, 0 deaths, $0.5M damage2014: 2 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage2015: 18 events, 14 deaths, $0.4M damage20152016: 175 events, 0 deaths, $0.2M damage2017: 151 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage2018: 33 events, 0 deaths, $2.3M damage2019: 252 events, 0 deaths, $8.5M damage20192020: 122 events, 0 deaths, $3.5M damage2021: 63 events, 0 deaths, $13.8M damage2022: 7 events, 0 deaths, $6.0M damage2023: 54 events, 0 deaths, $690.0M damage20232024: 74 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage2025: 5 events, 0 deaths, $0.0M damage
Events (no fatalities) Events with fatalities

Hazard Breakdown

⛈️hail
1.1K events·0 deaths·$0
Low:1.1K
Moderate:20
💨wind
326 events·0 deaths·$718.5M
Low:316
Moderate:10
🌊flood
251 events·14 deaths·$27M
Low:7
Moderate:61
High:129
Severe:54
❄️blizzard
140 events·20 deaths·$9.2M
Low:40
Moderate:80
Severe:20
🌪️tornado
111 events·45 deaths·$2.3B
Low:76
Moderate:12
High:23
🌡️heat
40 events·20 deaths·$0
Low:20
Severe:20

Most Affected ZIP Codes in District of Columbia

20007 105 events 20016 104 events 20011 104 events 20008 101 events 20015 99 events 20024 97 events 20012 93 events 20002 91 events 20037 87 events 20009 84 events

📊 District of Columbia Disaster Profile

Federal and state records show 1,953 natural disaster events for District of Columbia, spanning 23 ZIP codes. The cumulative documented property damage stands at $3B. A total of 99 fatalities have been attributed to natural disasters in the state.

⚠️ Hazard Distribution

Hailstorms lead District of Columbia's disaster profile with 1,085 events (56%). Other significant hazards include severe wind events (326 events, $718.5M in damages), floods (251 events, $27M in damages), and blizzards (140 events, $9.2M in damages). District of Columbia has no recorded hurricanes, wildfires, and earthquakes in the dataset.

📍 Geographic Impact

The most disaster-affected areas in District of Columbia include ZIP 20007 (105 events, $143.2M in damages), ZIP 20016 (104 events, $132.9M in damages), and ZIP 20011 (104 events, $137M in damages).

📈 Trends Over Time

Disaster frequency in District of Columbia has increased markedly over time. The average annual event count in recent decades is roughly 347% higher than in earlier periods of the record. The year 2019 stands out as particularly active, with 252 events recorded — likely driven by a major weather system or disaster season.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions — District of Columbia

What natural disasters occur in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia has experienced 1,953 documented natural disaster events. The hazard types recorded include hailstorms (1,085), severe wind events (326), floods (251), blizzards (140), tornadoes (111), and extreme heat events (40). The most common hazard is hailstorms, accounting for 56% of all events.

What are the most disaster-prone areas in District of Columbia?

Based on historical records, the most disaster-affected ZIP codes in District of Columbia are ZIP 20007 (105 events), ZIP 20016 (104 events), ZIP 20011 (104 events), ZIP 20008 (101 events), and ZIP 20015 (99 events). These areas have the highest concentration of recorded natural disaster events in the state.

How much damage have natural disasters caused in District of Columbia?

Natural disasters have caused a documented $3B in property damage across District of Columbia. This total is based on records from FEMA, NOAA, and USGS, covering events from the 1950s onward. The actual figure is likely higher, as not all events have complete damage records.

About This Data

State-level data aggregated from FEMA (disaster declarations, NFIP flood claims), NOAA Storm Events Database, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, and NIFC wildfire records. Historical coverage varies by source, with most records beginning in the 1950s–1970s. Full methodology →

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