FEMA issues final rejection of Arizona’s request for flood disaster relief

Arizona will not be getting federal disaster relief funding for the damage caused by severe flooding in the Globe-Miami area last year.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency initially rejected Gov. Katie Hobbs’ disaster aid request for Gila and Mohave counties in December 2025.

The Democratic governor filed an appeal in January, but FEMA let her know on July 2 that it was sticking with its original decision.

“After a thorough review of all the information contained in your initial request and appeal, we reaffirm our original findings that the impact from this event is not of the severity and magnitude that warrants a major disaster declaration. Therefore, I must inform you that your appeal for a major disaster declaration is denied,” Robert J. Fenton Jr., a FEMA administrator, said in a letter to Hobbs.

Hobbs called it a “cruel and reckless decision” and vowed to keep fighting for the affected communities. She said the state will work with local leaders, tribal communities, nonprofit partners and members of Congress to find other ways to bolster the recovery efforts.

“Three lives were lost in these floods, and critical infrastructure was completely destroyed,” Hobbs said Thursday in a news release. “Arizona clearly met the threshold for this funding, and my administration worked alongside bipartisan members of our congressional delegation and local leaders for six months to secure it, yet the federal government refused to deliver support for Arizonans in need.”

Globe-Miami flooding reportedly caused $100 million in economic losses

In late September 2025, torrential monsoon storms ravaged Globe and neighboring Miami. Three people were killed when the area received 2.5 inches of rain in a 24-hour period.

Hobbs declared a state of emergency on Sept. 27, triggering the release of state funds. On Oct. 24, she made the initial request for FEMA disaster aid.

In March, Globe Mayor Al Gameros told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News that the initial state request used $36 million as the total for damages, but further assessments found that the actual damages were much higher. Total economic losses were estimated to exceed $100 million, according to Hobbs’ appeal.

Gameros expressed his disappointment after the appeal was rejected. He also thanked Hobbs for approving a state budget that included $10 million for flood mitigation projects in Gila County.

“While we respect the federal review process, this determination does not reflect the significant impacts experienced by our residents, businesses and public infrastructure,” Gameros said in Thursday’s news release.

Could Arizona’s FEMA disaster aid rejection be politically motivated?

According to an Associated Press analysis of FEMA data dating back to 1989, President Donald Trump has taken longer on average during his second term to approve disaster requests than any other president. He also has denied a greater percentage of requests than any other president.

Furthermore, Trump has approved 80% of the disaster requests from Republican governors but only about 60% from Democratic governors, according to AP’s analysis. That was the widest partisan divide found.

“The president’s denial is part of a pattern of extreme partisanship as he tries to shift a heavier economic burden onto blue states. Disaster aid should be merit-based, not politicized,” Rhode Island’s Democratic U.S. Senate and House members said in a joint statement after their state’s request for federal aid for recovery from a February snowstorm was rejected earlier this month.

Related

Glendale firefighters deliver endangered birthday cakes after grocery store blaze‘T-bone type’ crash in Scottsdale leaves 1 dead, 1 in critical condition, police sayArizona Humane Society sends out urgent plea ahead of free adoption eventThe 233 Suites hotel celebrates debut in downtown MesaMan left in critical condition after 3-car collision in north PhoenixChandler drops Flock license plate reader cameras after audit flags potential misuse