Flood 2011 Recovery

As the community begins to recover from flooding rains, many individuals and businesses are wondering where they can turn for assistance. State and federal agencies offer a number of programs for flood victims. I would like to share some of these resources with local residents.

Recovering from a disaster begins with Reporting Your Damages. The types and levels of disaster assistance depend on the severity of the damage and the declarations that result from the disaster event.

Reimbursement grants to local governments (state, county, local, municipal authorities, school districts and certain non-profit agencies) involved in disaster response and recovery operations are available through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency's (PEMA) Public Assistance Program.

Help for individuals, businesses, homeowners and to renters recover from disasters is available through PEMA's Individual Assistance Program. Individuals and businesses can also apply for federal aid by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov or calling 1-800-621-3362 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

While neighbors and families often band together to help one another during natural disasters, some unscrupulous individuals use this opportunity to prey on desperate victims. State Attorney General Linda Kelly urged Pennsylvania residents to be cautious about storm-related consumer problems and potential scams in the coming days. Kelly noted the most common scams following disasters include home repair scams, government loan or grant schemes, fraudulent disaster-related fund raising efforts and concerns about price gouging. For more information visit the Office of the Attorney General's website.

For additional information about storm damage assistance and recovery, visit PEMA.

Additional Resources:

Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee Disaster Assistance Information

Post-Flooding Information and Resources