Scholars have long called out the challenge of defining hazard events that are socially and economically disruptive. To govern and administer assistance, the U.S. codifies disasters through a “federal disaster declaration.” But the current system for such declarations is not only inconsistent, opaque, and difficult to navigate for survivors (especially the most vulnerable), it also excludes the kinds of hazards we will increasingly face due to climate change.
Disaster declarations structure the way we track, research, and communicate about hazards and their socioeconomic impacts. The disaster declaration process begins with a state or tribal request, after a disaster exceeds their capacity to respond; it ends with the president declaring an emergency or major disaster, which opens the gates for federal agencies to transfer personnel and funding to impacted communities, as codified in the Stafford Act. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manages the regulations, burden of proof, and assessment of damage, and makes recommendations to the White House on whether to issue the declaration.
