Hurricane Ida Relief Available For Horsham Businesses

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —The third round of Hurricane Ida Relief Fund has now opened.

Applications for Round 3 opened Monday and now include licensed business or commercial property owners or tenants of storm-impacted property from the tornado that swept through parts of the township in September 2021.

Residential property owners or renters are also invited to apply for HIRF consideration, township officials said.

HIRF was created to ease the financial strain experienced by property owners and residents impacted by the tornado and flooding of Hurricane Ida.

It is financed by a $1.5 million grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development.

Anyone interested in applying is encouraged to apply for reimbursement of eligible storm-related expenses as soon as possible. HIRF is available to all storm-affected residents as a one-time grant of up to $3,500.

Township Manager Bill Walker has stated at council meetings that those who apply are more than 90 percent guaranteed to receive some sort of relief.

In September 2021, a tornado caused "extensive damage" in a section of the township as an EF-2 tornado touched down in Montgomery County, traveling from Fort Washington and Upper Dublin Township up to Horsham Township.

The damaged area in Horsham included neighborhoods near Carl Kohler Park and Samuel Carpenter Park, neighborhoods west of Limekin Pike between Norristown Road and Prospectville, and neighborhoods southeast of County Line Road between Keith Valley Road and Park Road.

The application period concludes when funds are fully distributed or on Dec. 31, whichever occurs first.

Receipt of applications will be confirmed by email. Awards are dependent upon available funds; there is no guarantee of award or amount of award.

Meanwhile, Round 2 applications received through April 30 are under review.

Applicants receiving a HIRF grant award in any amount are not eligible to apply for additional funding in future rounds. Anyone unsure about eligibility to apply should email HIRF@horsham.org.

For complete program information, eligibility, and application materials, please visit www.horsham.org/hirf

Paper application materials are available at the Township Building at 1025 Horsham Rd.

Applicants should review HIRF FAQs and 10 Helpful Hints before applying. Any questions related to HIRF should be directed to hirf@horsham.org or 215-643-3131.