How to check if your county has a FEMA disaster declaration

Last updated: May 21, 2026

To check if your county has a FEMA disaster declaration, search FEMA's declarations by state, county, and date at fema.gov/disasters, or call the LiveDataLink disaster_declarations tool. If a Major Disaster declaration includes Individual Assistance for your county, you may be eligible to apply for aid.

Search by county

FEMA publishes every declaration with the state, county, incident type, and dates. Filter to your county to see what has been declared. The disaster_declarations tool returns the same data programmatically.

{
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "disaster_declarations",
    "arguments": { "state": "TX", "county": "Harris" }
  }
}

For a multi-year rollup of how often an area has been declared, use disaster_history_summary. For flood-specific loss history, nfip_flood_claims returns NFIP claim data by zip, county, or state.

Declaration types

Emergency Declaration. Limited federal help to save lives and protect property, often issued before or during an event.
Major Disaster Declaration. The broadest. It can unlock Individual Assistance, Public Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation funding.
Fire Management Assistance Grant. Help fighting fires that threaten to become major disasters.

Who can apply, and how

Individual Assistance is the program for households and individuals, and it is only available when a Major Disaster declaration specifically authorizes it for your county. If it does:

File your insurance claim first. FEMA cannot duplicate what insurance covers.
Apply at disasterassistance.gov, or call 1-800-621-3362.
Keep records, receipts, and photos.

Common misconceptions

A declaration for your state does not automatically cover your county; assistance is authorized county by county. And a declaration alone does not mean cash for individuals: Public Assistance funds governments and nonprofits, while Individual Assistance must be specifically authorized.

FAQ

My state was declared but my county is not listed. Am I covered?

Generally no. Assistance is authorized at the county level. Check whether your specific county appears in the declaration.

Does a declaration mean I get money?

Not automatically. Individual Assistance must be authorized for your county, and FEMA aid does not duplicate insurance, so file your insurance claim first.

How do I see past disasters for my area?

Use disaster_history_summary for a multi-year FEMA summary by state and county.

Last updated: May 21, 2026 · LiveDataLink home