Governor Corbett Requests Federal Aid for Cumberland County Flood Victims

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett has asked the U.S. Small Business Administration to declare Cumberland County a disaster area as a result of significant flood damage caused by a mid-April storm.  

Federal, state and local officials have already conducted damage assessments at several sites in the county.

According to Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Glenn Cannon, the damage in Cumberland County exceeds the SBA's criteria of at least 25 homes and/or businesses with uninsured losses of 40 percent or more of their estimated fair market value.

"The formal request is necessary before any federal SBA assistance can be provided, but it does not guarantee assistance will be approved," Cannon said.

If the declaration is granted, the SBA would provide low-interest loans of up to $200,000 to eligible homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Regulations permit loans up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant's financial qualifications.

More information on disaster assistance in Pennsylvania is available at www.pema.state.pa.us.

The state's ReadyPA campaign encourages citizens to take three basic steps before an emergency occurs: Be Informed, Be Prepared, Be Involved.  More detailed information, including emergency kit checklists and plans, is available online at www.ReadyPA.org or by calling 1-888-9-READY-PA.

Media contacts:  
Kevin Harley, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116
Maria A. Finn, PEMA; 717-651-2009

Editor's Note: Text of the governor's May 12 letter follows:

Mr. Frank Skaggs, Director
Office of Disaster Assistance
Field Operations Center East
U.S. Small Business Administration
101 Marietta Street NW, Suite 700
Atlanta, Georgia  30303-2725

Dear Mr. Skaggs:

On April 16, 2011, individual homes and businesses in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, sustained significant damage as a result of flooding.  Based on the results of a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Damage Survey, the damage in Cumberland County meets the SBA criteria of at least 25 homes and/or businesses with uninsured losses of 40 percent or more of their estimated fair market value.

Based on this information, I request the SBA declare Cumberland County a disaster area so that low-interest loans may be made available to the affected property owners.  The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will not ask the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance for this event.  

Should you need additional information, please contact Ms. Cole Probst, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), at 717-651-2163 or via email at [email protected].

Sincerely,
Tom Corbett
Governor

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor