FEMADR-1497-PAMajor disasterDeclared September 26, 2003
DR-1497-PA: Pennsylvania Tropical Storms Henri and Isabel and Related Severe Storms and Flooding
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for Pennsylvania (DR-1497-PA) on September 26, 2003 for the incident of September 15, 2003 to September 23, 2003; it covers 1 designated area. FEMA had approved $1.0 million for 267 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-1497-PA (also written FEMA-1497-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Incident
- Severe Storm: Tropical Storms Henri and Isabel and Related Severe Storms and Flooding
- Incident period
- September 15, 2003 to September 23, 2003
- Declared
- September 26, 2003
- Programs declared
- Individuals and Households, Individual Assistance (the older program, flagged until 2008), Hazard Mitigation
- FEMA region
- 3
- Place in the year
- the second of 2 major disaster declarations for Pennsylvania in 2003
- Status
- closed out on March 23, 2007
- Registration deadline (individual help)
- November 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester (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?
267households approved for help (IHP)
$1.0 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved
$635,579of it for housing
$374,258of it for other needs
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/1497. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on November 25, 2003.