Lehigh County Declared a Disaster Area

In the wake of Hurricane Irene, Lehigh County was declared a disaster area by the Federal Emergency Management Agency late last week.

According to Ben Galiardo, Lower Macungie's deputy emergency management director, an area must suffer at least $1.1 million in damage to be eligible for aid, and Lehigh County had $1.2 million in damage.

“People had from two inches of water in their basements to as much as nine feet, which meant it was on the main floor level, since basements are usually only eight feet,” he said.

Anyone in Lower Macungie Township who has  flood damage should go to FEMA's disaster assistance application website and fill out the form.  It takes about 20 minutes, Galiardo said.

Required application elements include:

• Name, address and phone number
• Social security number
• Information on owning or renting the home and number of people living there
• Information on flood insurance, if any
• Household income
• Description of losses—receipts will be needed for anything purchased
• Photos of damage

When FEMA comes to the township, they will only check the list of applicants and go to their homes.

“So please,” Galiardo said, “I urge anyone with damage from Irene to apply.”