Arizona natural disasters & FEMA declarations
AZ · 8th most declarations of 51 states/DC
Arizona has had 120 federally declared disasters since 1966, the 8th most of any US state or DC. Its most common hazard is Fire (82 declarations, about 68% of the total). The most recent declaration was "Severe Storms And Flooding" (Severe Storm), on May 29, 2026.
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by hazard type
These are the distinct FEMA disaster declarations for Arizona, grouped by their primary incident type. A single declaration can affect many counties; each is counted once here.
| Hazard / incident type | Declarations | Share of state total |
|---|---|---|
| Fire | 82 | 68% |
| Flood | 17 | 14% |
| Severe Storm | 15 | 13% |
| Biological | 3 | 3% |
| Freezing | 1 | 1% |
| Hurricane | 1 | 1% |
| Drought | 1 | 1% |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by program type
FEMA issues several kinds of declaration. Major Disaster (DR) declarations unlock the widest assistance; Emergency (EM) declarations are more limited; and Fire Management Assistance (FM) grants help fight large wildfires.
| Declaration type | Declarations |
|---|---|
| Fire Management Assistance (FM) | 79 |
| Major Disaster (DR) | 37 |
| Emergency (EM) | 4 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Declarations by decade
How Arizona's declaration count has changed over time. Earlier decades reflect both fewer disasters and a narrower federal declaration program; recent decades are the most complete.
| Decade | Declarations |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 1 |
| 1970s | 7 |
| 1980s | 4 |
| 1990s | 18 |
| 2000s | 31 |
| 2010s | 28 |
| 2020s | 31 |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Most recent declarations
| Date | Title | Type | FEMA ID |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2026 | Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | DR-4911-AZ |
| May 22, 2025 | Cody Fire | Fire | FM-5585-AZ |
| May 14, 2025 | Greer Fire | Fire | FM-5584-AZ |
| Oct 25, 2024 | Flooding | Flood | DR-4840-AZ |
| Oct 4, 2024 | Watch Fire | Fire | DR-4833-AZ |
| Jul 13, 2024 | Watch Fire | Fire | FM-5508-AZ |
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2. Data as of June 2026.
Notable earthquakes in or near Arizona
No magnitude-6.0+ earthquakes are attributed to Arizona in the USGS catalog used here. That does not mean the state has zero seismic risk — smaller earthquakes occur in most states. See our earthquake risk by region guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many federally declared disasters has Arizona had?
Arizona has had 120 distinct FEMA disaster declarations since 1966, the 8th most of any US state or DC, according to FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries.
What is the most common disaster in Arizona?
The most common federally declared disaster type in Arizona is "Fire", with 82 declarations — about 68% of the state's total.
When was the most recent disaster declaration in Arizona?
The most recent FEMA declaration in Arizona in this snapshot was "Severe Storms And Flooding" (Severe Storm), declared May 29, 2026.
Related
Source & notes
Disaster data from OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2; earthquake data from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Both are US public domain. Counts are distinct declarations (a declaration affecting many counties is counted once). HazardMap is not affiliated with or endorsed by FEMA or USGS; this is general information, not safety or insurance advice. Verify with official sources.
Last updated: 2026-06-18