Overview
- FEMA denied Arizona’s appeal on July 15, saying the September 2025 floods in Globe and the Town of Miami were “not of such severity and magnitude” to qualify for a Major Disaster Declaration.
- The floods killed three people, caused roughly 1,000 propane tanks to float loose in a hazardous-materials incident, and produced a final damage estimate of about $96 million.
- Because the federal declaration was denied, state emergency rules will apply and Arizona is expected to cover about 75% of eligible costs instead of the roughly 90% federal share a declaration would have provided.
- City and county officials say they spent months compiling records, hosted two FEMA site visits and a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers survey during the appeals process and now have no further administrative appeals available.
- Local leaders say cleanup, infrastructure repairs and long-term flood mitigation will continue despite tight budgets, rising uninsured losses for residents and fresh local flooding that has heightened urgency for protective work.