HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Corbett has announced that the federal government has approved his request for disaster aid that will help communities in Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga and Wyoming counties recover from a devastating storm that moved through the region from April 25-28.
The Public Assistance program will provide approximately $19 million in federal funds for county and municipal governments to help recover the cost of debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property. In addition, the money will also be directed to certain private nonprofit organizations engaged in community service activities.
“April was one of the wettest months on record, and these five counties sustained tremendous damages from which they simply cannot recover on their own,” said Glenn Cannon, director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. “We appreciate that the federal government recognized our need and granted our request.”
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency continues to work with the affected counties, state, federal and local agencies and non-governmental entities involved in this disaster.
General information on disaster assistance in Pennsylvania is available at www.pema.state.pa.us; click on “Disaster Assistance” in the left-hand column.
The state’s ReadyPA campaign encourages citizens to take three basic steps before an emergency occurs: Be Informed, Be Prepared, Be Involved.
More detailed information, including emergency checklists and plans, is available online at www.ReadyPA.org or by calling 1-888-9-READY-PA.
