FEMA Announces New Disaster Declarations and Updates for Several States

You might care about this because the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regularly publishes official notices about Presidential disaster declarations. This specific document from May 2026 lists emergencies and major disasters declared or updated between April and October 2025 under the Stafford Act. It details new emergency declarations, such as for Arkansas due to severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding. It also includes amendments to existing declarations for states like South Carolina, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Texas. These amendments often involve changing the Federal Coordinating Officer, who oversees the federal response, or closing the incident period for a disaster. For example, Darryl L. Dragoo was replaced by Darryl L. Dragoo for South Carolina, and Mary Hernandez-Marrero replaced Darryl L. Dragoo for multiple Tennessee declarations. The document also specifies the types of federal assistance available, using Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers. These programs cover various needs such as community loans, crisis counseling, legal services, unemployment aid, housing assistance, and public assistance for infrastructure repair. The declarations outline the geographical areas affected and the federal cost-share, typically 75 percent, for eligible expenses. This notice ensures transparency and provides critical information for those involved in disaster response and recovery efforts across the nation. This document is particularly significant because it shows the continuous process of federal disaster management. It highlights how the President uses the Stafford Act to provide help to states and tribes during emergencies. The regular updates, like changing Federal Coordinating Officers or closing incident periods, demonstrate the dynamic nature of disaster response. It is interesting to see the consistent use of specific federal assistance programs. These programs offer various forms of support, from direct aid to individuals to funding for public infrastructure repairs. The frequent declarations and amendments underscore the ongoing challenges faced by different regions due to natural disasters. It also makes it clear that FEMA keeps track of these declarations and makes official updates public. This ensures that the public and affected communities know what help is available and who is in charge of those efforts. Anyone involved in disaster preparation, response, or recovery would find this document very interesting. This includes state and local government officials, especially emergency managers and planners. People who work for non-profit organizations focused on disaster relief will also find this useful. Businesses and individuals affected by severe storms, tornadoes, or flooding in Arkansas, South Carolina, New Mexico, Tennessee, or Texas could use this information to understand available aid. Legal professionals dealing with disaster-related claims or aid will find the listed federal programs helpful. Finally, researchers and policy makers studying federal disaster response would gain insights from these official declarations.