Damage assessments help determine whether the impacts of an incident exceed local and state
capabilities and whether a federal disaster declaration is warranted. They provide the foundation
for evaluating need, estimating costs, and identifying affected areas.
State, local, tribal, and territorial governments
Eligible private nonprofit organizations participating in assessments
Facilities and impacts directly tied to the incident
Conduct Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs)
Document damage with photos, descriptions, and cost estimates
Coordinate with FEMA and state/tribal officials
Only incident-related damage counts toward declaration criteria
Insufficient documentation may delay or reduce eligibility
Assessment quality directly affects the strength of the declaration request
