FEMADR-1501-PRMajor disasterDeclared November 21, 2003
DR-1501-PR: Puerto Rico Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for Puerto Rico (DR-1501-PR) on November 21, 2003 for the incident of November 10, 2003 to November 23, 2003; it covers 31 designated areas. FEMA had approved $58.1 million for 41,875 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026) and obligated $7.1 million in Public Assistance (as of May 17, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-1501-PR (also written FEMA-1501-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- Puerto Rico
- Incident
- Severe Storm: Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Landslides
- Incident period
- November 10, 2003 to November 23, 2003
- Declared
- November 21, 2003
- Programs declared
- Individuals and Households, Individual Assistance (the older program, flagged until 2008), Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation
- FEMA region
- 2
- Place in the year
- the only major disaster declaration for Puerto Rico in 2003
- Status
- closed out on May 22, 2013
- Registration deadline (individual help)
- February 4, 2004
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aibonito (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Arroyo (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Cabo Rojo (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Canovanas (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Cayey (Municipio) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Ceiba (Municipio) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Coamo (Municipio) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Culebra (Municipio) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Fajardo (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Guanica (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Guayama (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Juana Diaz (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Juncos (Municipio) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Lajas (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Loiza (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Luquillo (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Maunabo (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Naguabo (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Naranjito (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Patillas (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rio Grande (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sabana Grande (Municipio) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Salinas (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| San German (Municipio) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| San Lorenzo (Municipio) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Santa Isabel (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Toa Baja (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Utuado (Municipio) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Vieques (Municipio) | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| Yabucoa (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Yauco (Municipio) | 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?
41,875households approved for help (IHP)
$58.1 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved
$17.0 millionof it for housing
$41.1 millionof it for other needs
$7.1 millionPublic Assistance obligated
$2.3 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.
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/1501. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on February 4, 2004.