Gov. Tom Wolf Friday sent a letter to the president requesting federal disaster aid for multiple counties to pay for millions of dollars in damages caused by severe storms that brought heavy rainfall and severe flash flooding to parts of Pennsylvania from August 10 to 15, 2018.

“This summer’s historic flooding left citizens and governments struggling to pay to bring things back to the way they were,” Gov. Wolf said. “Federal funding is needed in these areas, and we are urging the president to grant this request.”

Included in the request for both Public Assistance and Individual Assistance are Berks, Bradford, Chester, Columbia, Delaware, Lackawanna, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming counties.

The governor requested Public Assistance for Bucks, Lycoming, and Tioga counties.

The major disaster declaration through the Federal Emergency Management Agency would provide federal funding to local, county and state governments, as well as certain eligible non-profits in those counties through the Public Assistance program.

Applicants can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of the costs incurred on eligible expenses, such as but not limited to: costs associated with paying overtime, repairs to damaged infrastructure, equipment rentals and materials.

In order to request Public Assistance, the Commonwealth overall must meet a threshold of $19,053,569. Estimated costs associated with this incident period total nearly $62.8 million. Meeting the threshold and making the request are not a guarantee of funding.

It is not known when the President will make a decision to grant or deny disaster assistance.

An Individual Assistance declaration could make available to citizens a variety of programs to assist in their recovery needs. More detailed information is available on the FEMA website.

The governor signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency, which is a required step in order to request federal aid, for this storm on August 17.

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[Posted: Nov. 2, 2018]

11/5/2018