FEMADR-1538-PAMajor disasterDeclared August 6, 2004
DR-1538-PA: Pennsylvania Severe Storms and Flooding
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for Pennsylvania (DR-1538-PA) on August 6, 2004 for the incident of July 27, 2004 to August 25, 2004; it covers 7 designated areas. FEMA had approved $10.0 million for 6,000 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-1538-PA (also written FEMA-1538-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Incident
- Severe Storm: Severe Storms and Flooding
- Incident period
- July 27, 2004 to August 25, 2004
- Declared
- August 6, 2004
- Programs declared
- Individuals and Households, Individual Assistance (the older program, flagged until 2008), Hazard Mitigation
- FEMA region
- 3
- Place in the year
- the first of 3 major disaster declarations for Pennsylvania in 2004
- Status
- closed out on July 7, 2011
- Registration deadline (individual help)
- October 5, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berks (County) | — | — | — | Yes |
| Bradford (County) | — | — | — | Yes |
| Delaware (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Montgomery (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Philadelphia (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Sullivan (County) | — | — | — | Yes |
| Susquehanna (County) | — | — | — | 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?
6,000households approved for help (IHP)
$10.0 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved
$7.9 millionof it for housing
$2.0 millionof it for other needs
$741,434Hazard 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/1538. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on October 5, 2004.