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Nearly two weeks after the remnants of Hurricane Ida swept through our community, I know many of our neighbors are still looking for desperately needed aid. I’m really glad to share that some of that aid has recently been made available due to the federal disaster declaration issued by President Biden late last week. While I know these resources will not replace the irreplaceable, it will assist in rebuilding efforts for our families and businesses. I’m thankful for the first responders and emergency management personnel who have worked tirelessly during and after the storm to help those affected. Their documentation of damage is vital so that we could make a case for this federal disaster declaration. I continue to call on FEMA to make available federal funding that will help our towns rebuild public infrastructure, like roads and bridges, in addition to the direct assistance for individuals announced earlier. You'll be hearing more about our office's next steps in the near future, but in the meantime I wanted to share some updates since our last e-newsletter on resources that have been made available to our community.
Helping You Recover from Hurricane Ida
For specific information related to your municipality and county, we encourage you to monitor updates from your county emergency offices in Chester and Berks counties.
Breaking it Down: Major Disaster DeclarationsLate last week, President Biden approved federal disaster declarations for parts of Pennsylvania. The incident period for both declarations is from August 31 – September 5, 2021, and authorizes FEMA to provide federal disaster assistance to impacted areas. Visit FEMA’s official Pennsylvania Hurricane Ida Disaster Page here.The type of federal assistance available in Pennsylvania may vary depending on your county and whether your county was officially declared a major disaster. If your area has not been declared a major disaster, continue to contact the local emergency coordinators in your municipality. State and Federal disaster agencies are still conducting preliminary damage assessments. These disaster declarations may still come on a rolling basis.
Pennsylvania Counties with Approved Major Disaster Declarations
**Source: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations About Disaster AssistanceFederal disaster assistance from FEMA may be available for certain expenses which are not covered by insurance policies (Homeowner, Renter, Flood, etc.) or from active Voluntary Agencies/Mass Care (emergency food, shelter, clothing, medical, etc.). For counties with major disaster declarations, this can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the impact of Hurricane Ida.Types of AssistanceIndividual Assistance Fact Sheet - learn about these programs:
Disaster Assistance Sequence of Delivery Fact Sheet - learn about the process to receive assistance here.
Applying for Federal AssistanceIf/when your county receives a Major Disaster Declaration, you may apply online for individual assistance from FEMA or constituents may call the application phone number at 1-800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585). Making it Easier for Your Family to ApplyWhen you apply for assistance, have the following information readily available:
Getting Your Small Business the Assistance to RecoverIn addition to FEMA assistance programs, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses of any size, and most nonprofits. Similar to FEMA claims, SBA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance. For small businesses, those engaged in aquaculture and most nonprofits, loans up to $2 million is available for working capital needs even if there was no property damage, with a $2 million maximum loan for any combination of property damage and working capital needs. Supporting Our First RespondersI am aware that many of our community’s first responders' facilities have experienced property damage. In addition to public assistance, these organizations are encouraged to apply for existing grant programs: Helping with Housing NeedsIf you live in a declared disaster area and have experienced damage to your home or personal property, you may be eligible for financial assistance from SBA — even if you do not own a business. As a homeowner, renter, or personal property owner, you may apply to SBA for a loan to help you recover from a disaster. For homeowners: loans up to $200,000 is available to repair or replace their primary residence. Apply online for an SBA disaster assistance loan. SBA’s inspectors will estimate the cost of damage once your application is completed and submitted. Helping Pay for Child CareIn Pennsylvania, eligible working families can receive helping paying a portion of their child-care fees through the Child Care Works Subsidized Child Care Program. For information on the program guidelines and how to apply, visit the Department of Human Services’ website. Accessing Immediate Assistance for Families in NeedThe Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, known as TANF, is a benefits program aimed at providing cash assistance so low-income families become independent. The program provides money to help:
There are eligibility requirements, including income limits and job-seeking requirements. Here’s more specific information and how to apply for Pennsylvania residents. Additional Support for Pregnant People and InfantsIn Pennsylvania, aid from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children — known as WIC — is available for qualified individuals. Those eligible can apply at a local WIC agency or call 1-800-942-9467, and include:
Other ResourcesFEMA Emergency assistance alone is not designed to make those affected whole. It is important that residents explore all aid available through the federal, state, and local governments as well as through reputable non-profits. In addition to your local and county governments, please find a list of organizations that FEMA has compiled. Frequently Asked Questions
Again, we know this is a difficult time for our community. As always, we invite you to call our office or message us through our contact form about this or any other issue. It is the honor of my lifetime to serve our community in Pennsylvania. Please take care and be well. Respectfully,
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