Schuylkill County receives FEMA public declaration

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that it is expanding assistance to sixteen Pennsylvania counties, including Schuylkill, to repair or replace public facilities damaged by the recent storms and flooding. Congressman Tim Holden told WPPA/T-102 News that the declaration news is a positive to the county, following the damage of last month's flooding. FEMA said affected local governments in Schuylkill, and other counties are eligible to apply for federal funds to pay 75 percent of the approved cost for debris removal, emergency services related to the disaster, and repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities. Governor Ed Rendell said that the Commonwealth has committed to provide the entire 25 percent of the required state/local share of public assistance funding. Procedures for requesting the assistance will be explained at a series of applicant briefings for local officials at a location to be announced shortly by state and federal disaster officials.