FEMADR-1447-MPMajor disasterDeclared December 11, 2002
DR-1447-MP: Northern Mariana Islands Super Typhoon Pongsona
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for Northern Mariana Islands (DR-1447-MP) on December 11, 2002 for the incident of December 8, 2002 to December 16, 2002; it covers 3 designated areas. FEMA had approved $3.7 million for 559 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026) and obligated $5.1 million in Public Assistance (as of May 17, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-1447-MP (also written FEMA-1447-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Incident
- Typhoon: Super Typhoon Pongsona
- Incident period
- December 8, 2002 to December 16, 2002
- Declared
- December 11, 2002
- Programs declared
- Individuals and Households, Individual Assistance (the older program, flagged until 2008), Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation
- FEMA region
- 9
- Place in the year
- the second of 2 major disaster declarations for Northern Mariana Islands in 2002
- Status
- closed out on February 10, 2016
- Registration deadline (individual help)
- February 23, 2003
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 | Individual Assistance (older program) | Public Assistance | Hazard Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rota (Municipality) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Saipan (Municipality) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Tinian (Municipality) | — | — | 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?
559households approved for help (IHP)
$3.7 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved
$1.4 millionof it for housing
$2.2 millionof it for other needs
$5.1 millionPublic Assistance obligated
$1.0 millionHazard Mitigation Grant Program obligated
Individual assistance figures as of October 1, 2026, public assistance as of May 17, 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/1447. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on February 23, 2003.