FEMADR-4473-PRMajor disasterDeclared January 16, 2020
DR-4473-PR: Puerto Rico Earthquakes
FEMA made a major disaster declaration for Puerto Rico (DR-4473-PR) on January 16, 2020 for the incident of December 28, 2019 to July 3, 2020; it covers 34 designated areas. FEMA had approved $76.8 million for 14,239 households through the Individuals and Households Program (as of October 1, 2026) and obligated $1.1 billion in Public Assistance (as of September 16, 2026).
The declaration
- Declaration
- DR-4473-PR (also written FEMA-4473-DR)
- Type
- Major disaster declaration
- State
- Puerto Rico
- Incident
- Earthquake: Earthquakes
- Incident period
- December 28, 2019 to July 3, 2020
- Declared
- January 16, 2020
- Programs declared
- Individuals and Households, Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation
- FEMA region
- 2
- Place in the year
- the first of 4 major disaster declarations for Puerto Rico in 2020
- Status
- open (not yet closed out by FEMA)
- Registration deadline (individual help)
- July 2, 2020
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 | Public Assistance | Hazard Mitigation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjuntas (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Aguada (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Anasco (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Arecibo (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Barceloneta (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Cabo Rojo (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Ciales (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Coamo (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Corozal (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Guanica (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Guayanilla (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hormigueros (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Jayuya (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Juana Diaz (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lajas (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lares (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Las Marias (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Maricao (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Mayaguez (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Moca (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Morovis (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Naranjito (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Orocovis (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Penuelas (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ponce (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rincon (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Sabana Grande (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Salinas (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| San German (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| San Sebastian (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Santa Isabel (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Utuado (Municipio) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Villalba (Municipio) | Yes | — | Yes |
| Yauco (Municipio) | 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?
14,239households approved for help (IHP)
$76.8 millionIndividuals and Households Program approved
$74.6 millionof it for housing
$2.2 millionof it for other needs
$1.1 billionPublic Assistance obligated
$48.5 millionHazard Mitigation Grant Program obligated
Individual assistance figures as of October 1, 2026, public assistance as of September 16, 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/4473. AreaZine is not FEMA and cannot answer questions about an application. Registration for individual help closed on July 2, 2020.