As tropical storm Priscilla made landfall, Tempe was at the center of destruction during a microburst storm. Now, Maricopa County is issuing a local emergency after the event caused severe destruction to public and private property.

The declaration allows Maricopa County to support ongoing recovery efforts and begin the process of seeking federal assistance through a FEMA Major Disaster Declaration.

“I want to thank Chairman Thomas Galvin for his swift action and leadership in ensuring this declaration was completed quickly so recovery efforts can move forward without delay," said Supervisor Mark Stewart, District 1.

Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management (MCDEM) is actively coordinating with the City of Tempe, Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA), and other local and state partners. County-led Emergency Operations Center teams and joint damage assessment teams began surveying property damage today to evaluate the full extent of the storm’s impact on homes and businesses.

Based on initial reports—including flyover surveys, media coverage, and on-the-ground assessments—Maricopa County may qualify for federal assistance that could provide the following resources to residents and businesses:

• FEMA Individual Assistance for homeowners and renters with uninsured or underinsured damages.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans, offering low-interest financial assistance to help businesses and residents recover from storm-related losses.

The City of Tempe declared a local emergency on October 15, which allowed the County to take this next step. Declaring a county-level emergency also supports neighboring counties, such as Gila County, by combining damage statistics to meet federal thresholds for assistance.

As of today, damage assessments have confirmed impacts to at least 105 homes, with an estimated two to three additional days of surveys remaining. Residents who experienced storm damage are encouraged to self-report through local channels to ensure all impacts are documented.

It will take several weeks for state and federal partners to validate the damage assessments and determine eligibility for federal disaster assistance. If approved, the maximum FEMA Individual Assistance grant is $43,600, though most payouts are smaller and do not require repayment. SBA loans, which are processed more quickly, must be repaid but are offered at low interest rates.