Disaster Declarations

Our Approach

Emergency and Major Disaster Declarations are requested by the governor of a state, tribe, or territory through corresponding regional Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offices, with the President of the United States (US) issuing the final declaration. These declarations apply to natural events or incidents such as fires, floods, or explosions, causing significant–and even catastrophic–damage across multiple jurisdictions.

When the severity and financial burden of an event exceed local, state, tribal, or territorial resources, the federal government steps in to provide additional support. Once approved, a disaster declaration unlocks federal funds for response and recovery through various programs, often covering both immediate emergency and permanent work efforts. 

However, securing federal financial assistance after a disaster is a complex process with detailed rules, regulations, forms, and procedures. While navigating these challenges can be difficult, the right expertise can make all the difference. Our services help clients maximize access to state and federal resources, minimize administrative hurdles, and expedite recovery. 

Core Disaster Declaration Services 

Pre-Declaration Support

• Eligibility Assessment: Evaluating if an event meets the criteria for state or federal disaster declaration assistance. 

• Damage Assessment Support: Conducting Initial Damage Assessments (IDAs) and detailed Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs) to quantify impacts and justify the need for a disaster declaration. 

• Stakeholder Coordination: Facilitating collaboration between local, state, and federal agencies to streamline the declaration process. 

Disaster Declaration Requests

• Application Development: Crafting clear and compelling disaster declaration requests tailored to state and federal requirements. 

• Documentation and Submission: Ensuring all necessary documentation is accurate, comprehensive, and timely. 

• Advocacy: Supporting clients in presenting their cases to state and federal officials, advocating for expedited approvals. 

Post-Declaration Management

• Advocate for Necessary Resources: Helping organizations identify and request direct assistance from FEMA Individual Assistance (IA) and other federal agencies that may not be automatically provided.

• Funding Access: Securing FEMA Public Assistance (PA), IA, and other relevant funding from state and federal sources. 

• Compliance and Reporting: Ensuring adherence to program requirements and assisting with reporting to avoid delays or penalties. 

• Appeals Support: Navigating appeals processes for denied or insufficient declarations to maximize funding opportunities. 

Training and Capacity Building

Providing tailored training for local, state, tribal, and territorial governments, organizations, and staff to ensure readiness for future disaster declarations. 

Why Hagerty? 

We bring decades of disaster recovery expertise, successfully supporting disaster declarations across all levels of government. Our holistic approach offers comprehensive support, from facilitating pre-declaration assessments to securing post-declaration funding. By collaborating closely with local, state, and federal agencies, we simplify complex processes, maximize outcomes, and help organizations recover faster. With deep, sector-specific expertise, we customize strategies to address unique challenges, ultimately helping clients access critical resources and build resilience for the future.