In Wake Of Ida, PA Lawmakers Look To Improve Disaster Response

HARRISBURG — A state legislator has introduced a bill that would create a state-level disaster relief program to help residents adversely affected by severe events, like Hurricane Ida.

State Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-146, unveiled legislation this week to establish the State Emergency Supplemental Grant Program for disaster relief. The move came after the lawmaker witnessed the widespread damage caused by Ida in early September.

"With each passing year, we are seeing increasingly dangerous weather," Ciresi said in a statement. "We need to put a safety net in place to protect and support Pennsylvanians when natural disaster strikes."

Ciresi says under his proposal, money from the state grant program would provide supplemental assistance to residents who have already maximized their federal assistance grants through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The lawmaker said the measure would also be helpful to state residents who suffer damage from natural disasters in situations where only the commonwealth, and not the federal government, issues a disaster declaration, since FEMA dollars would not typically be available to affected property owners and business owners in that situation.

" ... Affected individuals and businesses would still be eligible for financial assistance to recover even when FEMA aid is not available," Ciresi said of his proposal.

According to Ciresi's office, the State Emergency Supplemental Grant Program would be funded with dollars raised through Pennsylvania's liquor tax, a levy that was first enacted back in 1936, and one that was originally designed to help victims of the Johnstown flood, another famous Pennsylvania disaster.

Ciresi said that his program would help ensure that all those who fall victim to natural disasters in Pennsylvania have the proper financial assistance to help with cleanup and remediation.

Hurricane Ida caused extensive damage throughout southeastern Pennsylvania when it rolled through the area back in early September.

Certain municipalities in Montgomery County, such as Horsham and Upper Dublin Townships, were hit particularly hard.