FEMADR-1473-ASMajor disasterDeclared June 6, 2003
DR-1473-AS: American Samoa Heavy Rainfall, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for American Samoa (DR-1473-AS) on June 6, 2003 for the incident of May 19, 2003 to May 21, 2003; it covers 2 designated areas. FEMA had approved $9.7 million for 4,499 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026) and obligated $1.5 million in Public Assistance (as of May 17, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-1473-AS (also written FEMA-1473-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- American Samoa
- Incident
- Severe Storm: Heavy Rainfall, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides
- Incident period
- May 19, 2003 to May 21, 2003
- Declared
- June 6, 2003
- 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 only major disaster declaration for American Samoa in 2003
- Status
- closed out on September 10, 2015
- Registration deadline (individual help)
- August 5, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern (District) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Western (District) | 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?
4,499households approved for help (IHP)
$9.7 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved
$5.0 millionof it for housing
$4.7 millionof it for other needs
$1.5 millionPublic Assistance obligated
$895,330Hazard 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/1473. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on August 5, 2003.