FEMADR-1453-OHMajor disasterDeclared March 14, 2003
DR-1453-OH: Ohio Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record Snow
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for Ohio (DR-1453-OH) on March 14, 2003 for the incident of February 14, 2003 to March 18, 2003; it covers 31 designated areas. FEMA had approved $2.6 million for 1,559 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026) and obligated $31.9 million in Public Assistance (as of May 17, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-1453-OH (also written FEMA-1453-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- Ohio
- Incident
- Severe Storm: Severe Winter Storm and Record/Near Record Snow
- Incident period
- February 14, 2003 to March 18, 2003
- Declared
- March 14, 2003
- Programs declared
- Individuals and Households, Individual Assistance (the older program, flagged until 2008), Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation
- FEMA region
- 5
- Place in the year
- the first of 3 major disaster declarations for Ohio in 2003
- Status
- closed out on January 20, 2011
- Registration deadline (individual help)
- May 13, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Athens (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Belmont (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Darke (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Delaware (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Fayette (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Franklin (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Gallia (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Greene (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Guernsey (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Harrison (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Hocking (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Jackson (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lawrence (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Licking (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Madison (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Meigs (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Miami (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Monroe (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Montgomery (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Morgan (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Muskingum (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Noble (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Perry (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Pike (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Preble (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Ross (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Scioto (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Union (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Vinton (County) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Washington (County) | — | — | 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?
1,559households approved for help (IHP)
$2.6 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved
$1.6 millionof it for housing
$994,974of it for other needs
$31.9 millionPublic Assistance obligated
$2.1 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.
FEMA's page for this declaration
FEMA's own page for this declaration is fema.gov/disaster/1453. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on May 13, 2003.