No Disaster Declaration, But Some Aid Likely Coming For Flood Victims

The first word on federal disaster grants for victims of the recent flash flooding is not good.

A spokesperson for Gov. Tom Wolf’s office told LevittownNow.com the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency’s (PEMA) assessment of flooding damage in Lower Bucks County “determined that it does not meet the threshold for individual assistance” through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The flooding hit parts of Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Bensalem Township, and Northeast Philadelphia hard on Monday, July 12. The flooding was localized and not widespread like past disasters.

There have been more than 1,100 reports of damages to homes and businesses in Bensalem Township, Bristol Borough, and Bristol Township. County officials said they estimate as many as 400 people were displaced by the flooding.

Because of the PEMA assessment not meeting federal thresholds for grants, Wolf won’t be signing a disaster declaration for the area in the wake of the storm.

“A declaration on its own does not unlock any assistance – federal or state – unless thresholds are met,” said Beth Rementer, a spokesperson for the governor.

From Wolf’s office: “When evaluating a Governor’s request for Individual Assistance, FEMA considers multiple factors. These factors include (1) the state’s fiscal capacity and resource availability, (2) the amount of uninsured home and personal property losses, (3) the demographics of the disaster impacted population, (4) the impact to community infrastructure, (5) the number of people who are missing, injured, or deceased due to the disaster, and (6) the number of disaster survivors who lost work or became unemployed due to the disaster and who do not qualify for standard unemployment insurance.”

Rementer said state officials believe those impacted by the flooding will qualify for U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans.

“Based on PEMA’s assessment of the damages from the flooding, the commonwealth believes it qualifies for federal assistance for businesses, renters and homeowners through the SBA so the governor made this request and the commonwealth expects to hear from SBA in the next day or two, at which time the administration will have more details on how to apply for SBA low-interest loans,” she said.

PEMA is still tallying damage to public infrastructure to see if local government will qualify for FEMA aid, Rementer said.

Sources aware of the damage assessments have said they have suspected the area would not qualify for FEMA aid due to the localized nature of the damage. One local government official said a PEMA representative told them last Tuesday that SBA loans were the most likely type of assistance.

Local and state officials said discussions are still ongoing about whether there could be potential state or county aid.

When the governor visited flooding sites in Bensalem Township and Bristol Township earlier this month, he promised help but noted much of that was dependent on whether the damage met the guidelines for aid laid out by the federal government. Additionally, he called for changing the system for getting aid.

Wolf’s office said they are “committed to exploring all available options within its power to provide residents with relief.”

Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia responded to the news.

“I am not sure why anyone is surprised at the governor’s decision. To ask the governor to issue such a declaration is to delay telling residents the truth: this event does not appear to qualify for individual assistance through the federal government. FEMA will not assist when damage is below $19.6 million. That is and has been the rule. We need to get busy on our local assistance,” she said.

State Rep. John Galloway, a Democrat who represents part of the area that received flooding, said local lawmakers continue to work on “potential assistance.”

“This is not going to stop state and local officials from helping and continuing to help,” he said.

“We’re learning every day about the extent of damage that might not have been seen in the beginning. I have been working furiously with Sen. Tomlinson, Rep. Galloway, and the county to find some kind of relief for our residents,” said State Rep. Tina Davis, a Democrat from Bristol Township.

Davis noted she was “disappointed” the governor did not sign a disaster declaration.

Bristol Township Council President Craig Bowen said he hopes local, county, and state officials can work together to get assistance.

“We always get the shaft,” he said. “People really needed help and we don’t scream that much for help. We got nailed by something that we need help with.”

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