FEMA turns down disaster aid for 7 Arizona counties hit by severe monsoon flooding
Federal disaster assistance will not be extended to parts of Arizona devastated by monsoon flooding, after the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied the state’s request for a major disaster declaration.
The decision, issued Wednesday, affects counties including Gila and Mohave, where officials estimate flooding in September caused more than $30 million in damage to public infrastructure, homes, and businesses.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs condemned the ruling, saying communities were being left to cope alone after historic storms.
“The people of Gila and Mohave County were devastated by flooding from severe monsoon storms this September,” Hobbs said in a statement. “Now, they have been denied support from the federal government with little explanation. By denying much needed relief, this administration is leaving Arizonans out on their own after their homes, businesses, roads, and bridges were decimated.”
Arizona counties
Hobbs confirmed the state will appeal the decision within the 30 day window allowed under federal rules. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees FEMA, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The denial comes as the Trump administration continues to tighten the scope of federal disaster assistance. Earlier this year, aid was also refused to Colorado following wildfires and flooding, prompting strong objections from Governor Jared Polis, who said his state would appeal.
Under the Stafford Act, the president has the authority to unlock additional federal funding by declaring a major disaster. Without that designation, affected communities face a significant funding gap.
In Arizona, Governor Hobbs declared a state of emergency in late September after the storms killed three people, damaged more than 300 homes, and caused widespread destruction across several rural towns. The request for a federal major disaster declaration was submitted in late October.
The city of Globe, about 70 miles east of Mesa, was among the hardest hit. Mayor Al Gameros described FEMA’s decision as premature, saying recovery assessments are still ongoing.
“I feel this is a refusal made before the full picture was clear,” Gameros said, noting that several buildings still require evaluation. He added that without a major disaster declaration, federal funding would cover only about 75 percent of recovery costs, compared with up to 90 percent if the request were approved.
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“If we don’t get that money, we are going to have to find it elsewhere,” Gameros said. “We have damaged infrastructure, shorelines, and creeks that need dredging. We also need mitigation work to reduce the impact if this happens again.”
Local leaders across the region echoed those concerns. Miami Mayor Gil Madrid called the denial “a frustrating setback that will have a real impact on our families and businesses.”
Business owners in Globe also expressed alarm. Anna Bejarano, who runs a flower shop in the town’s downtown area, said the loss of federal funding makes it harder to prevent future devastation.
In November, members of Arizona’s congressional delegation sent a bipartisan letter urging the administration to approve the disaster declaration, arguing that the scale of damage met federal criteria.
State officials say they will continue working with local governments and lawmakers in Washington as they push for FEMA to reverse its decision and provide assistance to communities still struggling to recover from the floods.
