2014: The fewest number of Disaster Declarations and Fire Grants in More than a Decade
All it takes is one.
One hurricane. One tornado. One flood, earthquake, or fire to displace a family, upend a business, destroy a school – or worse. No one is immune to the threat of disasters, and 2014 was no exception.
In March, we witnessed an entire community wiped away from the mudslide that hit Oso, Washington. In August, an earthquake hit Napa damaging buildings and homes. And in September, severe weather in Michigan generated significant flooding, affecting thousands of families in Detroit, just to name a few.
But how does 2014 stack up against previous years when it comes to the number of disasters and fire management grants declared by the federal government?
We got lucky. Due to a relatively quiet year with respect to natural events, there were fewer federally declared disasters and fire grants issued last year than in more than a decade. In total, between Major Disaster declarations, Emergency Declarations, and Fire Management Assistance Grants, there were just 84 declared disasters and fire grants provided last year.
As this chart shows, this is fewer than most years, and represents the lowest number of declared disasters and fire assistance grants provided by FEMA in at least 14 years. (Learn how these are declared.)
A closer look shows that last year, the number of major disasters declared by the President was only 45. The last time there were so few was 2001, when there were also 45 declared. And although Fire Management Assistance Grants are not declared by the President but by the FEMA Administrator, last year was also a lower-than-average year for providing these grants. In 2014, FEMA provided 33 fire management grants, a higher number compared to 2013 (28) but far fewer than the 118 provided in 2011, or the 86 provided in 2006.
Finally, emergency declarations – often made ahead of an event like a hurricane to protect life and safety – continued to be declared relatively rarely last year, with just 6 presidentially declared emergency declarations last year, compared to a high of 68 in 2005.
Every year is different, and the unpredictability of natural and man-made disasters will always drive the number of disasters declared. At FEMA, we know there are always peaks and valleys in the number of total disaster declarations. Although 2014 saw fewer federal declarations overall, next year could be a peak year for your area, so use this time to prepare your home and family for potential emergencies.
Visit Ready.gov to understand the disaster risks in your area, learn how to prepare for emergencies, and make your home, business, school, and community, more resilient against future disasters.