FEMADR-1502-VAMajor disasterDeclared December 9, 2003
DR-1502-VA: Virginia Severe Storms and Flooding
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for Virginia (DR-1502-VA) on December 9, 2003 for the incident of November 18, 2003 to November 19, 2003; it covers 6 designated areas. FEMA had approved $1.2 million for 487 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-1502-VA (also written FEMA-1502-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- Virginia
- Incident
- Severe Storm: Severe Storms and Flooding
- Incident period
- November 18, 2003 to November 19, 2003
- Declared
- December 9, 2003
- Programs declared
- Individuals and Households, Individual Assistance (the older program, flagged until 2008), Hazard Mitigation
- FEMA region
- 3
- Place in the year
- the third of 3 major disaster declarations for Virginia in 2003
- Status
- closed out on May 31, 2007
- Registration deadline (individual help)
- February 9, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bland (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Buchanan (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Galax | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Giles (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Smyth (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Tazewell (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?
487households approved for help (IHP)
$1.2 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved
$970,511of it for housing
$249,973of it for other needs
$54,661Hazard Mitigation Grant Program obligated
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/1502. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on February 9, 2004.