FEMADR-1494-DEMajor disasterDeclared September 20, 2003
DR-1494-DE: Delaware Hurricane Isabel
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for Delaware (DR-1494-DE) on September 20, 2003 for the incident of September 18, 2003 to September 29, 2003; it covers 3 designated areas. FEMA had approved $1.5 million for 344 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026) and obligated $2.2 million in Public Assistance (as of May 17, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-1494-DE (also written FEMA-1494-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- Delaware
- Incident
- Hurricane: Hurricane Isabel
- Incident period
- September 18, 2003 to September 29, 2003
- Declared
- September 20, 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 Delaware in 2003
- Status
- closed out on July 30, 2007
- Registration deadline (individual help)
- November 24, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| New Castle (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sussex (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?
344households approved for help (IHP)
$1.5 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved
$1.0 millionof it for housing
$443,651of it for other needs
$2.2 millionPublic Assistance obligated
$287,623Hazard 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/1494. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on November 24, 2003.