Context

The president can declare an emergency for any occasion or instance when the President determines federal assistance is needed. Emergency declarations supplement State and local or Indian tribal government efforts in providing 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 total amount of assistance provided for in a single emergency may not exceed $5 million.

The president can declare a major disaster for any natural event, including any hurricane, tornado, storm, high water, wind-driven water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm, or drought, or, regardless of cause, fire, flood, or explosion, that the President determines has caused damage of such severity that it is beyond the combined capabilities of state and local governments to respond. 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.

Content

This dataset includes a record for every federal emergency or disaster declared by the President of the United States since 1953.

Acknowledgements

The disaster database was published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency with data from the National Emergency Management Information System.

Inspiration

What type of disaster is the most commonly declared by FEMA? Which disasters or emergencies have lasted the longest? What disaster was declared in the most counties or states? Has the number of disasters declared by FEMA risen or fallen over time?