What is the difference between a county Disaster Declaration and declaring a State of Emergency?

Question

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

A disaster declaration is usually made for the purpose of letting the public know something is going on and to be legally eligible for state/federal aid.

A State of Emergency is declared by an executive such as a governor or president. In this case an executive authority is granted additional powers under the law to deal with the emergency. For example in a SOE a president or governor is authorized to use military assets, enforce martial law, and/or curfews and so on for a limited time. This is because when there is an emergency it requires immediate response and flexibility that legislation is incapable of.