FEMADR-1469-ILMajor disasterDeclared May 15, 2003
DR-1469-IL: Illinois Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for Illinois (DR-1469-IL) on May 15, 2003 for the incident of May 6, 2003 to May 11, 2003; it covers 16 designated areas. FEMA had approved $1.6 million for 442 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-1469-IL (also written FEMA-1469-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- Illinois
- Incident
- Severe Storm: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
- Incident period
- May 6, 2003 to May 11, 2003
- Declared
- May 15, 2003
- Programs declared
- Individuals and Households, Individual Assistance (the older program, flagged until 2008), Hazard Mitigation
- FEMA region
- 5
- Place in the year
- the only major disaster declaration for Illinois in 2003
- Status
- closed out on February 17, 2011
- Registration deadline (individual help)
- July 14, 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 |
| Alexander (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Brown (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Fulton (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Greene (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Hancock (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Mason (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Massac (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| McDonough (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Pike (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Pope (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Pulaski (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Schuyler (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Tazewell (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Union (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Woodford (County) | 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?
442households approved for help (IHP)
$1.6 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved
$787,057of it for housing
$857,301of it for other needs
$92,411Hazard Mitigation Grant Program obligated
Individual assistance figures as of October 1, 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/1469. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on July 14, 2003.