Congressman Seeks Swift Review of Damage Following Floods

Congressman Tim Murphy this week sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate calling on the agency to swiftly complete an analysis of damage in Southwestern Pennsylvania communities following severe thunderstorms, flooding, and microburst rains earlier this month.

As PEMA and FEMA conduct joint Preliminary Damage Assessments to evaluate damage to public infrastructure as a result of strong straight-line winds, severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that affected the Commonwealth from June 27 – July 10, 2013, Murphy praised the swift response and asked for continued speed in determining the total amount of damage in the communities affected in Allegheny County.

A copy of the letter was also sent Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Glen Cannon.

“Thanks to the swift response of local policemen, volunteer firefighters, and emergency personnel, no lives were lost during this catastrophe. In the immediate aftermath, hundreds of volunteers came together to help the affected towns and families clean up quickly, but significant work remains,” Murphy stated in the letter.

This month, Murphy visited affected areas to inspect the damage, mobilize resources, and help chart a path forward to prevent future flood damage. At his request, officials from the Pittsburgh District of the Army Corp of Engineers accompanied him on-site to make recommendations to local officials on clearing debris from streams in order to reduce the likelihood of future flooding.

FEMA officials were in Washington County Tuesday to assess damage to areas most hit—such as Peters, township Manager Michael Silvestri said.

To read more about that visit, click here. 

In the meantime, local businesses impacted by the recent flooding may be eligible for a low-interest loan, Silvestri said.

That's because Gov. Tom Corbett recently announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration approved his request to declare the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Fayette a disaster area after flooding in Western Pennsylvania from weather events starting June 27.

Residents in the three counties and the 14 counties that border them—including Washington County—may be eligible for low-interest disaster loans through the SBA Disaster Loan Programs.