The disaster response and recovery expectations of the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) vary year to year and event to event. Although Arizona did not experience devastating wildfires or flooding in 2015, a neighboring state did, allowing DEMA personnel to deploy and assist in recovery.

When a disaster strikes in Arizona, an Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) representative isn’t far away.

El Niño is a weather pattern characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific. The consequences of the warmer water pose a serious threat to communities across the country, including Arizona. For Arizonans, that means a wetter (rain or snow) winter and spring, and increased flood risk.