President Trump approved major disaster declarations for Colorado, Texas and Kentucky between Sept. 3 and Sept. 4, unlocking federal recovery aid for states hit by an unusually active summer of wildfires, severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.
The declarations make Individual Assistance and Public Assistance programs available for survivors and local governments across the three states, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Colorado’s declaration covers wildfires, flooding and mudslides that struck during June and July. Texas was hit by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in July. Kentucky faced severe storms and flooding in June, FEMA said.
Separately, FEMA approved approximately $36 million for disaster recovery in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, and $162.8 million for communities in Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, the agency reported.
The cluster of declarations reflects the geographic breadth of the 2026 disaster season, spanning the Mountain West, Southern Plains, Midwest and Appalachian regions. The wildfire season in several western states has been described as record-setting, amplifying demand on federal disaster resources.
For residents and businesses in the affected areas, the declarations trigger access to federal grants for temporary housing, home repairs, low-cost loans for property losses and other assistance programs.
The scale of the disaster season is placing significant demands on FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, which Congress appropriates annually. Multiple simultaneous large-scale disasters can strain the fund and force the agency to prioritize immediate life-safety spending over longer-term recovery projects.