After a hurricane, flood or wildfire, you will often hear that the President has “approved a disaster declaration.” That phrase decides whether federal money flows to the area, and to whom.
How a declaration happens
Disaster response in the US starts locally. When damage is beyond what local and state governments can handle, the governor (or a tribal leader) sends a request to the President through FEMA. FEMA and state officials usually survey the damage first.
The President then decides whether to approve the request and which counties are included. The legal basis is the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988.
The three types
Major disaster declaration. The broadest kind. It can unlock:
- Individual Assistance: grants to households for temporary housing, basic home repairs and other needs not covered by insurance.
- Public Assistance: money for states and local governments to remove debris and rebuild roads, bridges, schools and other public facilities.
- Hazard Mitigation: money to reduce future damage, such as elevating or buying out flood-prone homes.
Not every major disaster declaration includes all three. Some counties get Public Assistance only, which means households in that county cannot apply for FEMA grants.
Emergency declaration. Narrower and often made before or during an event, such as when a hurricane is approaching. It usually covers urgent protective work like evacuations, shelters and debris removal. Federal spending under an emergency declaration is generally capped at $5 million unless the President approves more.
Fire management assistance declaration. Used for wildfires that threaten to become major disasters. It pays a share of the cost of fighting the fire. It does not provide help to households.
How many are there?
Since 1953 there have been nearly 5,000 major disaster declarations; the newest, for Hurricane Isaias in Florida in October 2026, is number 4,955. The number of major disasters for natural events rose from 179 in the 1960s to 601 in the 2010s. In 2026 alone, FEMA had issued 152 declarations of all types by early November.
You can see the latest declarations on this site, updated weekly.
What it means for you
If your county is included in a major disaster declaration with Individual Assistance, you can apply for FEMA help. See our step-by-step guide on how to apply for FEMA disaster assistance.
FEMA grants are meant to make a home safe and livable, not to replace everything you lost. They are usually much smaller than an insurance payout. That is why insurance, including flood insurance, matters even in places that get federal declarations often.
Questions people ask
Does a declaration mean my damage will be paid for? No. It means you can apply. FEMA looks at each household’s insurance and damage, and it does not pay for losses that insurance already covers.
Why was my county left out? Counties are added based on damage surveys. More counties are sometimes added weeks later as more damage is found.
Is a statewide declaration different? Some declarations, especially emergencies, cover a whole state rather than listing counties. County pages on this site show these separately.