The 2017 Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance was published after the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013 (SRIA), which amended the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121 et seq. (Stafford Act), to provide federally recognized Indian tribal governments (Tribal Nations) the option to request a Presidential emergency or major disaster declaration. The 2024 Tribal Declarations Interim Guidance incorporates extensive input from Tribal Nations and includes updates that simplify standards, streamline information, and enhance access to programs for Tribal Nations.
2024 Tribal Declarations Interim Guidance
Starting December 3, 2024, tribal disaster declarations will follow new procedures outlined in FEMA’s 2024 Tribal Declarations Interim Guidance.
Before Dec. 3, 2024
Refer to 2017 Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance
On or After Dec. 3, 2024
Follow the Updated 2024 Tribal Declarations Guidance
FEMA is requesting public comments on updates in the Tribal Declarations Interim Guidance, which describes how FEMA processes and evaluates requests for assistance from Tribal Nations for a disaster declaration. The 30-day public comment period is open through Jan. 2, 2025. More information on can be found at Regulations.gov.
Understanding the 2024 Tribal Declarations Interim Guidance
To assist Tribal Nations in navigating the updates, FEMA has prepared the following resources:
To learn more about how to request a federal disaster declaration for Tribal Nations, visit FEMA’s Tribal Affairs Hub.