General Discussion

state's Governor must submit a formal request to the POTUS to have a federal disaster declaration. In more recent years, most presidents have a declaration at the ready -- awaiting that governor's likely request. Was blown away when djt rejected Sarah Hucklebee's Arkansas declaration request.

Otherwise, one of the exceptional reasons (i.e., Insurrection Act) must be invoked if the state's National Guard cannot handle a situation -- a decision generally made between a governor and the state's National Guard Adjutant General.

This president has been itching to use the Insurrection Act, and that can get incredibly dangerous.