FEMADR-1455-WVMajor disasterDeclared March 14, 2003
DR-1455-WV: West Virginia Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for West Virginia (DR-1455-WV) on March 14, 2003 for the incident of February 16, 2003 to March 28, 2003; it covers 49 designated areas. FEMA had approved $5.4 million for 2,200 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026) and obligated $9.3 million in Public Assistance (as of May 17, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-1455-WV (also written FEMA-1455-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- West Virginia
- Incident
- Severe Storm: Severe Winter Storm, Record/Near Record Snow, Heavy Rains, Flooding and Landslides
- Incident period
- February 16, 2003 to March 28, 2003
- Declared
- March 14, 2003
- Programs declared
- Individuals and Households, Individual Assistance (the older program, flagged until 2008), Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation
- FEMA region
- 3
- Place in the year
- the first of 4 major disaster declarations for West Virginia in 2003
- Status
- closed out on August 12, 2010
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley (County) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Boone (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Braxton (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Brooke (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Cabell (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Calhoun (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Clay (County) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Fayette (County) | Yes | Yes | — | — |
| Gilmer (County) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Grant (County) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Greenbrier (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hampshire (County) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Hancock (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Hardy (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Harrison (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| Jackson (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Jefferson (County) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Kanawha (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lewis (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lincoln (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Logan (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Marion (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Marshall (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Mason (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| McDowell (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mercer (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mineral (County) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Mingo (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Monongalia (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Monroe (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Morgan (County) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Nicholas (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ohio (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Pendleton (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Pocahontas (County) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Preston (County) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Putnam (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Raleigh (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Roane (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Summers (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Taylor (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Tucker (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Tyler (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Upshur (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wayne (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Webster (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wetzel (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Wirt (County) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Wyoming (County) | Yes | 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?
2,200households approved for help (IHP)
$5.4 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved
$4.4 millionof it for housing
$1.1 millionof it for other needs
$9.3 millionPublic Assistance obligated
$813,465Hazard 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/1455. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on May 13, 2003.