Why Arizona mayors want FEMA to declare two growing issues as major natural disasters

Phoenix, Arizona: As Phoenix, and the Earth in general, marks another recording-breaking summer, Tempe Mayor Corey Woods, along with mayors from Mesa, Flagstaff and Tucson has signed a letter requesting that FEMA declare extreme heat and wildfire smoke as major natural disasters. Why? Well a primary reason is that it would give the state more federal money to bolster the local resource already stretched thin.

On Thursday, Phoenix hit 56 days, with temperatures reaching 110 degrees or higher. So far this year, there have been 177 heat-related deaths reported in Maricopa County, and 436 six cases are still under investigation.

How does FEMA decide what's a natural disaster?

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) defines a major natural disaster as any natural event, such as a hurricane, tornado, storm, flood, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, snowstorm, or drought, which causes significant damage to infrastructure, property, or causes loss of life.

When can a governor request a major disaster declaration?

When such an event overwhelms state and local capabilities, the governor of the affected state can request a major disaster declaration from the President, which allows for federal resources to be deployed. This declaration enables FEMA to provide a wide range of assistance, including financial aid for individuals and public infrastructure recovery efforts, and deploy resources for emergency services.

What are the criteria for a major disaster? 

The key criteria for declaring a major disaster include the severity and magnitude of the event, and the need for federal assistance to supplement state and local efforts.