FEMADR-1577-CAMajor disasterDeclared February 4, 2005
DR-1577-CA: California Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for California (DR-1577-CA) on February 4, 2005 for the incident of December 27, 2004 to January 11, 2005; it covers 8 designated areas. FEMA had approved $21.5 million for 10,913 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026) and obligated $197.4 million in Public Assistance (as of May 17, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-1577-CA (also written FEMA-1577-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- California
- Incident
- Severe Storm: Severe Storms, Flooding, Debris Flows, and Mudslides
- Incident period
- December 27, 2004 to January 11, 2005
- Declared
- February 4, 2005
- Programs declared
- Individuals and Households, Individual Assistance (the older program, flagged until 2008), Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation
- FEMA region
- 9
- Place in the year
- the first of 2 major disaster declarations for California in 2005
- Status
- closed out on September 28, 2018
- Registration deadline (individual help)
- May 16, 2005
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kern (County) | Yes | Yes | — | Yes |
| Los Angeles (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Orange (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Riverside (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| San Bernardino (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| San Diego (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Santa Barbara (County) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ventura (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?
10,913households approved for help (IHP)
$21.5 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved
$15.1 millionof it for housing
$6.4 millionof it for other needs
$197.4 millionPublic Assistance obligated
$16.6 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.
FEMA's page for this declaration
FEMA's own page for this declaration is fema.gov/disaster/1577. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on May 16, 2005.