7 More Counties Added to Disaster Declaration

Posted on August 21, 2024 |

Yesterday, Gov. Josh Shapiro amended the August 9, 2024 proclamation of disaster emergency to add seven additional counties, including Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Elk, Indiana, and York as ongoing assessments show significant damages due to catastrophic flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby.

This amendment places 28 total counties under the proclamation, which was originally issued for for 21 counties (Adams, Bedford, Berks, Bradford, Carbon, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Fulton, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Pike, Potter, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, and Wyoming). The declaration makes state funds available for response and recovery and authorizes state agencies to use all available resources to assist in response and recovery. The proclamation also waives bidding and contracting requirements during the emergency. Per the Pennsylvania Constitution, the proclamation will remain in place until August 30, 2024, unless the General Assembly returns to session to extend it.

The governor’s disaster declaration allows the Commonwealth to quickly draw down funding and to provide state agencies with the resources needed to assist counties and municipalities with ongoing recovery efforts. Additional counties may be added to the declaration as damage assessments are completed.

It is imperative that affected townships and other communities participate in the preliminary damage assessment (PDA) to identify local damage and coordinate with your county emergency management agency. Damages in your community need to be reported to the county as soon as possible, which will help the county and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency determine if the affected counties are eligible for federal funding through a Presidential declaration. For tip sheets and damage assessment forms, as well as sample local disaster declarations and extensions, click here for PEMA’s Emergency Management for Municipal Officials Handbook. For the governor’s press release, click here.