Obama Issues Flood Disaster Declaration for Pennsylvania

September 14, 2011

President Barack Obama has issued a disaster declaration for 19 Pennsylvania counties affected by last week’s deadly flooding.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says the declaration allows for assistance including grants for temporary housing and home repairs as well as low-cost loans for uninsured property losses.

State officials say 11 people were killed in the flooding brought on last week by the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee. Up to a foot of rain fell in some areas over the five-day period that ended on Friday.

Communities across eastern Pennsylvania experienced devastating floods that surpassed the scope of the massive inundation of Hurricane Agnes in 1972.

FEMA says the declaration also makes federal funds available for hazard mitigation efforts in affected counties on a cost-sharing basis.