GOVERNOR RENDELL ANNOUNCES SIX ADDITIONAL PA COUNTIES DESIGNATED FOR FEDERAL DISASTER AID TWENTY ONE COUNTIES HAVE NOW BEEN DECLARED FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE

HARRISBURG - Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced that six additional Pennsylvania counties have been given federal disaster designation for the Individual Assistance program, which will now help homeowners, renters and businesses in a total of 21 counties recover from disaster damages as a result of heavy rain and flooding that began on June 23.  

President Bush and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today designated Dauphin, Lackawanna , Lancaster , Lebanon , Montour and Northumberland counties for disaster assistance.  Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Chester, Columbia, Franklin, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties were previously designated.

"I encourage citizens in these counties to call or go online to apply for disaster assistance," Governor Rendell said. "This is the first step for citizens to take to help them start to financially recover from the floods."

Uninsured and under-insured Pennsylvanians in the designated counties are urged to call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or apply online at www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm for disaster assistance. 

The Individual Assistance program provides grants to eligible flood victims for temporary housing, home repair, home replacement and permanent housing construction.  Other damages are also eligible under FEMA's Individuals and Households Program. 

Staff from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and FEMA will work with county officials to set up disaster recovery centers in various locations throughout the affected areas.  Disaster recovery centers are one-stop shops for disaster related questions, getting help filling out forms and gathering more information about what assistance is available.  While visiting a disaster recovery center is not necessary, it is imperative that residents applying for disaster assistance call FEMA's toll-free number or register online.   

Governor Rendell said state, local and federal damage assessment teams continue to document the effects of the flooding on residences and businesses in counties across Pennsylvania in an effort to get help to commonwealth citizens and business owners recovering from floods. 

Additional flood safety information and weather updates can be found at: 

www.PAFLOODING.state.pa.us