Wolf Calls For Federal Flood Aid Boost As Ida Set To Pummel PA

HARRISBURG, PA — With the remnants of Hurricane Ida expected to wallop Pennsylvania with heavy rains this week, Gov. Tom Wolf is urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency to lower thresholds for federal flash flooding aid.

Wolf last week sent a letter to FEMA officials not specifically related to Ida, but rather to the increasing number of localized, short-duration storms that trigger devastating flash flooding across the state.

“These high-intensity precipitation events result in significant damages and impacts to human lives, but they rarely meet the thresholds needed for federal disaster aid in the form of Individual Assistance,” Wolf said .

“While my administration is working diligently to support recovery efforts, substantial gaps remain when these localized events do not meet federal damage assessment thresholds. As a result, victims are left to pick up the pieces with little to no financial support. "

Ida's remnants could bring as much as 6 inches of rain to Philadelphia and eastern Pennsylvania Tuesday night through Thursday. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the region Wednesday and Thursday. In addition to heavy rain, the storm could bring severe thunderstorms.

As much as 6 inches also could fall around portions of southwestern Pennsylvania. A Flash Flood Watch is in place for Pittsburgh and surrounding counties from early Wednesday until early Thursday.

Flooding has become one of the state's most significant hazards. According to the Wolf administration, in 2019 more than 5,200 Pennsylvania homes were damaged by flooding. None met federal thresholds required for individual assistance.

Data collected since 1993 has indicated that 96 percent of flooding incidents in the state reported to the National Weather Service occurred outside of established flood plains. Despite this, many homeowners and renters are not required to purchase flood insurance by their lender or landlord
and many are unable to afford the additional expense.

To receive a federal disaster declaration for individual assistance providing money directly to homeowners and renters, the state would need to reach certain levels for the number of homes that fit into the classification of “major damage” or “destroyed” along with other considerations that are specified by FEMA.

“Evaluating impacts solely on a micro level at the municipal or county level alone, rather than toward a whole state assessment, would provide a more realistic assessment of the impacts to that community,” Wolf said. "Doing so will provide much needed direct assistance to the most vulnerable who most often are ineligible for other disaster assistance.”

See Wolf's letter to FEMA here.

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