HARRISBURG, DAUPHIN CO. (WOLF) — Pennsylvania is set to receive additional federal funding to help cover costs associated with recovery from Tropical Storm Debby, which brought destructive flooding to parts of the state nearly two years ago.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced nearly $25 million in funding for projects across the Mid-Atlantic, including more than $1.6 million through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Pennsylvania’s share includes $837,780 to help cover management costs related to the state’s recovery from Tropical Storm Debby, which prompted a federal major disaster declaration after the storm’s remnants swept across the Commonwealth on Aug. 9-10, 2024.
Debby’s remnants dumped torrential rain across much of northeastern and north-central Pennsylvania, triggering widespread flash flooding, washed-out roads, power outages and numerous water rescues. Governor Josh Shapiro declared a disaster emergency that eventually expanded to 28 counties, including Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming in northeastern Pennsylvania.
The storm caused enough damage that FEMA ultimately approved both individual and public assistance for affected areas. Public Assistance was later made available to Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne and Wyoming counties, among others, to help reimburse governments and eligible nonprofits for repairing damaged public infrastructure and covering emergency response costs.
The Pennsylvania funding announced this week is intended to help administer those recovery efforts and reduce the impact of future disasters.
The broader FEMA package includes $5.8 million in Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grants for mitigation projects in Virginia and Maryland, as well as $17 million in Public Assistance funding, including nearly $13 million for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to cover COVID-19-related management costs.
FEMA said the grants are part of a nationwide $584 million investment through its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant programs, which help states and local communities rebuild damaged infrastructure while investing in projects designed to lessen the impact of future disasters.