Pennsylvania Disaster Assistance Tops $40 Million 

By The Numbers

Release Date: August 11, 2006
Release Number: 1649-048

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HARRISBURG, Pa. -- State and federal agencies continue to provide assistance and work towards recovery for the counties affected by the storms and floods that impacted the Commonwealth in late June.

There are currently 22 counties that have been designated to receive Individual Assistance (IA). IA designation allows for federal funds to aid disaster-affected households with disaster assistance funds in the forms of grants and loans. Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Columbia, Dauphin, Franklin, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties have been designated.

There are 23 days left to register for disaster assistance. September 2, 2006 is the deadline for Pennsylvanians living in disaster-designated counties to apply for federal disaster assistance by calling the FEMA toll-free number 1-800-621-FEMA (3362); TTY 1-800-462-7585. Online registration is also available at www.fema.gov.

25 counties have been approved for Public Assistance (PA) funds. The program provides assistance for work including debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the restoration of infrastructure to pre-disaster conditions. Adams, Armstrong, Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Columbia, Franklin, Indiana, Lackawanna, Lebanon, Luzerne, Monroe, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, and Wyoming counties have been designated.

More than 4,000 Pennsylvanians have sought information at Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) throughout the affected areas. Presently, one DRC is open, which provides helpful information about disaster assistance and recovery. The DRC is located in Columbia County.

FEMA has completed 9,354 housing inspections. Inspectors record all disaster-related structural damages to homes and document damages to personal property.

Nearly 11,000 Pennsylvanians have registered for disaster assistance by calling the FEMA toll-free registration number at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362); TTY 1-800-462-7585.

$15,595 in Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has been approved for 145 eligible victims of the storms and floods. Commonwealth residents who have experienced a loss of income due to the June floods can apply for DUA by calling toll-free, 1-877-FILE-DUA (345-3382).

FEMA has approved a $228,273 Crisis Counseling grant for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Flood victims living in disaster-designated counties can call their county mental health number for assistance. Crisis Counseling helps disaster victims recognize normal stress reactions and emotions caused or aggravated by a disaster, and regain control over themselves and their environment.

$700,882 in federal dollars has been obligated for Public Assistance (PA) projects. FEMA awards grants to assist state and local governments and certain private non-profit entities with their response to, and recovery from, the disaster. FEMA pays seventy-five percent of the remaining costs, after the twenty-five percent commitment from the Commonwealth for PA projects.

FEMA has provided more than $16 million directly to Pennsylvania flood victims for housing and other needs assistance through the Individuals and Households Program (IHP).

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than 692 disaster assistance loans to homeowners, renters, and businesses totaling more than $25 million.

Pennsylvania Disaster Assistance By County As Of 08-10-06
Designated Counties Total Applicants Housing Assistance Other Needs Assistance Individuals and Households Program (IHP) Total *
Berks 451 $614,395 $47,394 $ 661,790
Bradford 104 154,662 13,412 168,074
Bucks 437 318,462 30,115 348,577
Carbon 219 294,305 18,614 312,919
Chester 299 312,799 44,530 357,329
Columbia 1,146 1,408,920 273,397 1,682,317
Dauphin 127 123,476 9,304 132,780
Franklin 408 556,661 19,020 575,681
Lackawanna 451 589,694 58,193 647,887
Lancaster 203 278,549 15,379 293,928
Lebanon 240 411,338 62,350 473,688
Luzerne 1,707 2,002,590 148,570 2,151,160
Monroe 477 781,550 86,115 867,665
Montgomery 216 185,054 78,084 263,138
Montour 67 73,958 753 74,711
Northampton 242 216,481 53,388 269,869
Northumberland 241 292,049 36,428 328,477
Pike 203 279,470 21,640 301,110
Schuylkill 1,496 1,784,159 289,329 2,073,488
Susquehanna 1,086 1,652,500 437,928 2,090,428
Wayne 427 489,411 57,401 546,812
Wyoming 739 1,318,232 139,061 1,457,293
Totals 10,986 $14,138,715 $1,940,405 $16,079,120

FEMA manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.

Temporary housing assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does not require that an applicant file for an SBA loan. However, an applicant must complete an SBA loan application to be eligible for additional assistance under the part of the Other Needs Assistance (ONA) program that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses. There are other ONA grants such as public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses that do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan to be eligible. FEMA will process applications for housing assistance regardless of whether the applicant has applied for an SBA loan and eligibility determinations for applicants requesting FEMA’s temporary housing assistance will not be held up because the applicant has or has not filled out an SBA application.

Last Modified: Friday, 11-Aug-2006 13:40:17