FEMADR-4353-CAMajor disasterDeclared January 2, 2018
DR-4353-CA: California Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris Flows
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for California (DR-4353-CA) on January 2, 2018 for the incident of December 4, 2017 to January 31, 2018; it covers 4 designated areas. FEMA had approved $5.1 million for 737 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026) and obligated $281.1 million in Public Assistance (as of September 24, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-4353-CA (also written FEMA-4353-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- California
- Incident
- Fire: Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflows, and Debris Flows
- Incident period
- December 4, 2017 to January 31, 2018
- Declared
- January 2, 2018
- Programs declared
- Individuals and Households, Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation
- FEMA region
- 9
- Place in the year
- the first of 3 major disaster declarations for California in 2018
- Status
- open (not yet closed out by FEMA)
- Registration deadline (individual help)
- March 16, 2018
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). Data as of September 29, 2026.
Which areas are covered, and for what?
| Designated area | Individuals and Households | Public Assistance | Hazard Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (County) | Yes | — | Yes |
| San Diego (County) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Santa Barbara (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ventura (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
An area can be added to a declaration after the first day, or have a program added: this table is FEMA's current list.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). Data as of September 29, 2026.
How much has FEMA approved?
737households approved for help (IHP)
$5.1 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved
$4.2 millionof it for housing
$897,706of it for other needs
$281.1 millionPublic Assistance obligated
$38.0 millionHazard Mitigation Grant Program obligated
Individual assistance figures as of October 1, 2026, public assistance as of September 24, 2026. FEMA updates both as applications are decided.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2); FEMA, OpenFEMA FEMA Web Disaster Summaries (v1). Data as of September 29, 2026.
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2). Data as of September 29, 2026.
FEMA's page for this declaration
FEMA's own page for this declaration is fema.gov/disaster/4353. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on March 16, 2018.