FEMADR-1461-AKMajor disasterDeclared April 26, 2003
DR-1461-AK: Alaska Severe Winter Storm, Including High Winds and Freezing Temperatures
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for Alaska (DR-1461-AK) on April 26, 2003 for the incident of March 6, 2003 to March 14, 2003; it covers 3 designated areas. FEMA had approved $789,831 for 346 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026) and obligated $1.9 million in Public Assistance (as of May 17, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-1461-AK (also written FEMA-1461-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- Alaska
- Incident
- Severe Storm: Severe Winter Storm, Including High Winds and Freezing Temperatures
- Incident period
- March 6, 2003 to March 14, 2003
- Declared
- April 26, 2003
- Programs declared
- Individuals and Households, Individual Assistance (the older program, flagged until 2008), Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation
- FEMA region
- 10
- Place in the year
- the only major disaster declaration for Alaska in 2003
- Status
- closed out on August 12, 2010
- Registration deadline (individual help)
- June 25, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage (Borough) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Kenai Peninsula (Borough) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Matanuska-Susitna (Borough) | 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?
346households approved for help (IHP)
$789,831Individuals and Households Program approved
$599,410of it for housing
$190,421of it for other needs
$1.9 millionPublic Assistance obligated
$203,999Hazard 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/1461. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on June 25, 2003.