FEMA Disaster Declarations Summary is a summarized dataset describing all federally declared disasters. This dataset lists all official FEMA Disaster Declarations, beginning with the first disaster declaration in 1953 and features all three disaster declaration types: major disaster, emergency, and fire management assistance. The dataset includes declared recovery programs and geographic areas (county not available before 1964; Fire Management records are considered partial due to historical nature of the dataset).rnrnPlease note the unique structure of the disaster sequencing (due to a numbering system that originated in the 1950's-1970's):rn0001-1999 Major Disaster Declarationrn2000-2999 Fire Managementrn3000-3999 Emergency Declaration (Special Emergency)rn4000- Major Disaster DeclarationrnrnFor more information on the disaster declaration process, see https://www.fema.gov/disasters and https://www.fema.gov/disasters/how-declared rnrnThis is raw, unedited data from FEMA's National Emergency Management Information System (NEMIS) and as such is subject to a small percentage of human error. The dataset is primarily composed of historical data that was manually entered into NEMIS after it launched in 1998. The financial information is derived from NEMIS and not FEMA's official financial systems.rnrnDue to differences in reporting periods, status of obligations, and how business rules are applied, this financial information may differ slightly from official publication on public websites such as www.usaspending.gov. This dataset is not intended to be used for any official federal financial reporting.rnrnA newer version of this OpenFEMA data set has been released. This older dataset version will no longer be updated and will be archived by the end of April 2020. The following page details the latest version of this data set: https://www.fema.gov/openfema-dataset-disaster-declarations-summaries-v2. CSV and JSON Files can be downloaded from the 'Full Data' section.rnrnTo access the dataset through an API endpoint, visit the 'API Endpoint' section of the above page. Accessing data in this fashion permits data filtering, sorting, and field selection. The OpenFEMA API Documentation page provides information on API usage. rnrnIf you have media inquiries about this dataset please email the FEMA News Desk FEMA-News-Desk@dhs.gov or call (202) 646-3272. For inquiries about FEMA's data and Open government program please contact the OpenFEMA team via email OpenFEMA@fema.dhs.gov.

The dataset contains disaster level financial information for FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The purpose of HMGP is to help communities implement hazard mitigation measures following a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration in the areas of the State, Tribe, or Territory requested by the Governor or Tribal Executive. For more information on the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, please visit: https://res1wwwd-o-tfemad-o-tgov.vcapture.xyz/grants/mitigationrnrnAdditional disaster level information can be found here: https://res1wwwd-o-tfemad-o-tgov.vcapture.xyz/openfema-data-page/disaster-declarations-summaries-v2rnrnInformation on projects funded under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program can found here: https://res1wwwd-o-tfemad-o-tgov.vcapture.xyz/openfema-data-page/hazard-mitigation-assistance-projects-v2rnrnThis is raw, unedited data from FEMA's National Emergency Management Information System (NEMIS) and as such is subject to a small percentage of human error. The financial information is derived from NEMIS and not FEMA's official financial systems. Due to differences in reporting periods, status of obligations and how business rules are applied, this financial information may differ slightly from official publication on public websites such as usaspending.gov; this dataset is not intended to be used for any official federal financial reporting.rnrnMissing values - In some cases data was not provided by the subgrantee (subrecipient), grantee (recipient) and/or entered into the FEMA mitigation grant systems. The information is likely available as part of the paper file which is considered the file of record.rnrnIf you have media inquiries about this dataset, please email the FEMA News Desk at FEMA-News-Desk@dhs.gov or call (202) 646-3272. For inquiries about FEMA's data and Open Government program, please email the OpenFEMA team at OpenFEMA@fema.dhs.gov.

Context The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5207 (the Stafford Act) §401 states in part that: "All requests for a declaration by the President that a major disaster exists shall be made by the Governor of the affected State." A State also includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Republic of Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia are also eligible to request a declaration and receive assistance through the Compacts of Free Association.

The Governor of the affected State or Tribal Chief Executive of the affected Tribe must submit the request to the President through the appropriate Regional Administrator within 30 days of the occurrence of the incident. The request must based upon a finding that the situation is beyond the capability of the State and affected local governments or Indian tribal government and that supplemental federal assistance is necessary.

Content This dataset includes a record for every federal emergency or disaster declared since 1953. The dataset will provide information on disaster types, locations, and dates of the declarations.

Acknowledgements The disaster data is published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. OpenFEMA Data Sets

Inspiration What are the most common disasters? How do the type of disasters vary by state? Which states are more prone to disasters?

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP, CFDA Number: 97.039) provides grants to States and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration. The purpose of HMGP is to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster. HMGP is available, when authorized under a Presidential major disaster declaration, in the areas of the State requested by the Governor.

The Current Disaster Declarations provides geospatial view to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (referred to as the Stafford Act - 42 U.S.C. 5721 et seq.) authorizes the President to issue "major disaster" or "emergency" declarations before or after catastrophes occur. Emergency declarations trigger aid that protects property, public health, and safety and lessens or averts the threat of an incident becoming a catastrophic event. A major disaster declaration, issued after catastrophes occur, constitutes broader authority for federal agencies to provide supplemental assistance to help state and local governments, families and individuals, and certain nonprofit organizations recover from the incident. This data is compiled and distributed by FEMA Mapping and Analysis Center (MAC).

The NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ceased providing support for this product in May 2025 in response to an initiative to implement reductions within the U.S. federal government. This dataset contains U.S. disaster cost assessments of the total, direct losses ($) inflicted by: tropical cyclones, inland floods, drought & heat waves, severe local storms (i.e., tornado, hail, straight-line wind damage), wildfires, crop freeze events and winter storms. These assessments require input from a variety of public and private data sources including: the Insurance Services Office (ISO) Property Claim Services (PCS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and Presidential Disaster Declaration (PDD) assistance, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) & Risk Management Agency (RMA), the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) and state agency reporting, among others. Each of these data sources provides unique information as part of the overall disaster loss assessment.

This dataset contains U.S. disaster cost assessments of the total, direct losses ($) inflicted by: tropical cyclones, inland floods, drought & heat waves, severe local storms (i.e., tornado, hail, straight-line wind damage), wildfires, crop freeze events and winter storms. These assessments require input from a variety of public and private data sources including: the Insurance Services Office (ISO) Property Claim Services (PCS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and Presidential Disaster Declaration (PDD) assistance, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) & Risk Management Agency (RMA), the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) and state agency reporting, among others. Each of these data sources provides unique information as part of the overall disaster loss assessment. This accession is updated quarterly.

The Disaster Emergency Medical Personnel System (DEMPS) is the Veterans Health Administrations main deployment program for clinical and non-clinical staff to an emergency or disaster. The DEMPS Program may be used for an internal VA mission, as well as supporting a mission after a Presidential Disaster Declaration under the National Response Frameworks Emergency Support Function #8 (Public Health and Medical Services). Interested, qualified VHA staff can apply online by submitting a DEMPS Application. DEMPS Coordinators and Administrators can manage volunteer data by accessing DEMPS Administration.The DEMPS Program is made up of the following entities:The DEMPS Volunteers (Full-time VHA employee, or Retiree Emergency Reserve Corps Volunteer (ERC)) VAMC DEMPS Coordinator DEMPS VAMC Facility Support Staff (Fiscal, Payroll, and Travel) DEMPS VISN Points of Contact DEMPS National Program Manager VHA Office of Emergency Management staff (Area Emergency Managers, and Regional Emergency Managers) Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Operations and Management, and The DEMPS database. In order for DEMPS to work successfully, all eight entities above must work together to deploy the DEMPS Volunteer to an emergency or disaster site.The DEMPS database was developed to collect specific information on full-time VHA medical personnel (clinical and non-clinical) and Retiree Emergency Reserve Corps (ERC) Volunteers who have volunteered and been approved by their Medical Center Director to be deployed (full-time staff or ERC Volunteers) in the event of a disaster, or to back fill a medical center (ERC Volunteers). When disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, etc., occur and the state and local resources to handle the response/recovery process are overwhelmed, the state in which the disaster occurs may request federal assistance. In this case, a Presidential Disaster Declaration is issued and the National Response Framework (NRF) is activated. Once the damage to the area and needs have been assessed, and it is determined that medical resources are required, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may task VA to provide these resources. Generally, these requests are for medical personnel (nurses, physicians, pharmacists, etc.), pharmaceutical (or other medical) supplies, and medical equipment. However, depending on the mission, VHA may deploy non-clinical staff to support the infrastructure of the deployment.

This dataset includes all counties that have been declared presidential disaster areas as a result of the May/June 2008 floods (and severe storms). Only declarations for individual assistance have been made -i.e., none for public assistance.