Harrisburg, PA – Today, Governor Josh Shapiro announced that President Biden has approved his request for Public Assistance following devastating flooding in the Commonwealth from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby on August 9-10, 2024.
FEMA’s Public Assistance program will cover eligible costs incurred by the state, county and municipal governments, and certain critical non-profits in Cambria, Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Indiana, Lycoming, Potter, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, and Wyoming counties for damages to public infrastructure and other costs associated with the disaster.
The Shapiro Administration has been leading a bipartisan effort to help Pennsylvanians recover from this devastating flooding. In addition to the aid announced today, Governor Shapiro and federal leaders previously secured Individual Assistance (IA) grants and U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses in Lycoming, Potter, Tioga, and Union counties. Through the IA grant program, FEMA has already distributed over $5 million to 1,046 Pennsylvanians in those counties. The deadline to apply for FEMA IA ended yesterday.
“The flooding caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby was devastating for many Pennsylvanians across our Commonwealth, and my Administration is doing everything we can to help them recover and rebuild,” said Governor Shapiro. “I saw the damage firsthand when I visited Tioga County – community buildings were nearly ruined, and first responders lost gear and equipment during the flood while answering the call to help their neighbors. This federal assistance will make a huge difference in helping municipalities and aid organizations recoup their losses. I promised that my Administration would continue to be there long after this disaster – and we’re working together across all levels of government to help Pennsylvanians get back on their feet.”
The FEMA Public Assistance (FEMA PA) program provides communities and certain critical non-profits with grants to repair eligible expenses such as fixing or replacing damaged infrastructure, equipment rentals and materials, and overtime costs. To request FEMA PA, the Commonwealth must accrue a cumulative total of $23.9 million in eligible disaster response and recovery damages and costs, along with each eligible county meeting a damage and cost threshold based on population. As of October 10, the Commonwealth exceeded $26 million in validated damages throughout 12 counties, with additional damages being considered by FEMA. Additional counties may be added later if sufficient damages are validated.
As part of the FEMA PA program, FEMA provides additional hazard mitigation grant funding which is made available to the Commonwealth and all 67 counties. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) provides federal funding to state and municipal governments through a cost share to help develop hazard mitigation plans and rebuild communities in a way that reduces, or mitigates, future disaster losses.
On August 9, 2024, in response to the disaster, Governor Shapiro quickly issued a Commonwealth proclamation of disaster emergency for 21 counties, and amended it to 28 counties on August 20, 2024, to provide immediate response and recovery assistance to affected Pennsylvanians. The Governor’s disaster declaration allows the Commonwealth to quickly draw down funding and to provide state agencies with the resources needed to assist counties and municipalities with ongoing recovery efforts. Governor Shapiro personally visited communities in Tioga County to see the damage and meet with residents and first responders.
Additionally, PEMA deployed a 19-member multi-agency Incident Management Team (PA-IMT) to Tioga County to assist with recovery support operations. The PA-IMT is made up of specialists trained in disaster response and recovery operations, and on this deployment included personnel from PEMA, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Departments of Corrections, Conservation & Natural Resources, and Health.
The PA-IMT embedded with municipal and county teams to aid efforts to help the community get back on their feet – and even helped Pennsylvanians recover some irreplaceable belongings, including a journal that belonged to a Pennsylvania senior in Westfield.
The Shapiro Administration will continue to work with impacted communities to assess any additional damages and to provide state resources as needed.
More information on FEMA’s Major Disaster Declaration for Tropical Storm Debby (DR-4815-PA) is available online.
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