FEMADR-1485-PAMajor disasterDeclared August 23, 2003
DR-1485-PA: Pennsylvania Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for Pennsylvania (DR-1485-PA) on August 23, 2003 for the incident of July 21, 2003 to September 12, 2003; it covers 15 designated areas. FEMA had approved $3.0 million for 1,155 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026) and obligated $28.6 million in Public Assistance (as of May 17, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-1485-PA (also written FEMA-1485-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Incident
- Severe Storm: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
- Incident period
- July 21, 2003 to September 12, 2003
- Declared
- August 23, 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 2 major disaster declarations for Pennsylvania in 2003
- Status
- closed out on September 30, 2010
- Registration deadline (individual help)
- November 18, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blair (County) | Yes | Yes | — | — |
| Clarion (County) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Crawford (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| Forest (County) | — | — | Yes | — |
| Lackawanna (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lawrence (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| McKean (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| Mercer (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| Potter (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Statewide | — | — | — | Yes |
| Tioga (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Venango (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| Warren (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | — |
| Wayne (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wyoming (County) | — | — | 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?
1,155households approved for help (IHP)
$3.0 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved
$2.5 millionof it for housing
$502,389of it for other needs
$28.6 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/1485. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on November 18, 2003.