Governor Josh Shapiro issued a proclamation of disaster emergency on Friday for Adams, Bedford, Berks, Bradford, Carbon, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Fulton, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Pike, Potter, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, and Wyoming counties in response to severe storms and catastrophic flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby.
The Governor’s disaster declaration, issued for counties that were under flash flood warnings and experienced heavy rain, will allow the Commonwealth to quickly draw down funding and to provide state agencies with the resources needed to assist counties and municipalities as they begin recovery efforts, according to a statement.
Additional counties may be added to the declaration as damage assessments are completed, officials said.
“To expedite resources and cut through the red tape, I issued a disaster declaration in response to the severe storms and flooding all across Pennsylvania, allowing the Commonwealth to move quickly to fulfill county requests for assistance,” Governor Shapiro said. “My Administration is in regular contact with federal and local leaders and is working hand in hand with our emergency management partners to understand where help is needed and to get appropriate resources there as quickly as possible. My Administration is going to continue to monitor this storm system and will provide regular updates through PEMA as we transition from response to recovery.”
From Friday’s statement:
The Governor’s proclamation makes $2 million of state funds immediately available to assist with the initial response and authorizes state agencies to use all available resources and personnel, as necessary. The proclamation also cuts red tape, waiving bidding and contracting procedures, as well as other formalities normally prescribed by law. Per the constitutional amendment approved in 2021, this proclamation will remain in place for 21 days, unless extended by the General Assembly.
The full proclamation can be found below:
For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.