Overview
Recovering from disaster can be a heavy burden. You aren't alone. There are resources available.
Report Damages
The first step to disaster recovery is reporting damages sustained to your property.
Why? Emergency managers in your community and at the state level input all of those damages into reports to paint a full picture of damages that happened as a result of the disaster.
More damages usually means more available funding to help Pennsylvanians recover.
Usually, emergency managers will be in your community after disaster. They'll even show up at your door to ask you about how you are doing and what damages you have.
You also can contact your county emergency manager directly to report damages or ask questions.
Federal Assistance
In the event of a Presidential Declaration of Major Disaster, the Individual Assistance Program provides help for individuals and businesses, homeowners, and renters, as they recover
These programs are largely funded by FEMA, although other federal, state, and local agencies support the overall Individual Assistance program.
The Small Business Administration might make a disaster declaration for smaller events, such as fires or localized flooding. This loan assistance may also be available to business that have suffered economic injury due to mobilization or deployment of Armed Forces Reservists in their employ.
Disaster Recovery Assistance Program
Sometimes Pennsylvania has a disaster that doesn't rise to the level of a Presidential disaster declaration.
In that instance, federal assistance does not become available. Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency sometimes frees up funds for lower-income individuals through the Disaster Recovery Assistance Program.
