President Declares Disaster for Pennsylvania

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal aid has been made available to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and ordered Federal aid to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the area affected by Hurricane Irene during the period of August 26-30, 2011.

Federal funding is available to commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by Hurricane Irene in the counties of Chester, Northampton, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties in the commonwealth.

Thomas J. McCool has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.  McCool said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and additional counties may be designated for assistance after the assessments are fully completed.