FEMA Will Assess Bucks Damage After 'Catastrophic' Ida Flooding

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Assessors from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will visit Bucks County starting Wednesday to evaluate the damages from last week's rainfall, flooding, and tornadoes.

Gov. Tom Wolf requested that the agency conduct Preliminary Damage Assessments for Individual Assistance in southeastern Pennsylvania after Tropical Depression Ida walloped the region on Wednesday night. FEMA assessments do not guarantee federal aid, but they help states decide whether or not to put it in an official request.

The assessments are also scheduled in neighboring Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.

"This storm has dumped 4-8 inches of rain over most of the entire county, with some areas locally getting 10+ inches of rain," Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo said Thursday. "I don't think it would be over the top to say that this storm has been catastrophic as far as it relates to Bucks County."

The county commissioners issued an emergency declaration on Thursday.

"Damage assessments are the first step in helping the governor determine whether the scope of the damages is beyond what the state is capable of handling and if added federal assistance is needed," FEMA said in a news release. "Additional assessments may be requested, by the state, as damage information is received from local officials."

FEMA describes disaster recovery efforts as "locally executed, state managed, and federally supported."

Bucks officials have urged residents to report their damages to the county, which will help FEMA and other organizations make determinations about possible funding.

Related: Ida's Impact: Water Rescue Calls From Every Bucks Municipality

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