What is a Declared Disaster?
When a disaster requires a response greater than state, local, or tribal government resources can handle, the governor of a state or a tribal government may seek a disaster declaration directly from the President of the United States. Only the President can make a disaster declaration.
A disaster declaration in your community means you can register for disaster assistance.
There are two types of disaster declarations that the President can make: emergency declarations and major disaster declarations. The type of disaster declaration determines the extent and type of assistance provided.
The President can declare an emergency for any occasion or instance when federal assistance is needed. Emergency declarations supplement State, local, and/or tribal government efforts to provide emergency services, such as the protection of lives, property, public health, and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States.
The President can declare a major disaster for any natural or man-made event that has caused damage of such severity that it is beyond the combined capabilities of state and local governments to respond. Such events include hurricanes, tornadoes, storms, high water, wind-driven water, tidal waves, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, mudslides, snowstorms, droughts, fires, floods, or explosions. A major disaster declaration provides a wide range of federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure, including funds for both emergency and permanent work.
For more information on the disaster declaration process, visit the disaster declaration page on FEMA's website.