Governor Rendell Makes Initial Request for Federal Disaster Assistance for Recent Winter Storms; Says PA Far Exceeded Federal Threshold

Submits Request Exceeding $50 million for Municipal Costs in 27 Counties; Additional Requests May be Submitted as Needed

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today asked President Barack Obama to declare a federal snow assistance and severe winter storm major disaster in Pennsylvania to help reimburse municipalities in 27 counties for the costs associated with back-to-back storms that brought record snowfall to many areas.

The Governor said his letter to the President represents Pennsylvania's initial request of the federal government, and that he may make additional requests as more information arrives from other counties.

"Just one of these winter storms – alone – would have presented tremendous financial challenges to many municipalities," said Governor Rendell. "But being hit by two major storms in less than a week was simply too much for them to bear.

"After reviewing the information we've received from counties to date, I've determined that these storms were of such severity and magnitude that they created an incredible strain on the state and affected municipalities—enough to warrant federal assistance. We continue to receive reports of additional damages, so I have reserved the right to request assistance for additional counties, as warranted."

In the weeks following the Feb. 5-6 and Feb. 9-10 storms, Governor Rendell asked municipalities to calculate eligible storm-related expenses and forward the totals to their respective counties. Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to, costs associated with paying overtime, equipment rentals, materials, search and rescue operations, and opening and operating shelters.

The information compiled at the county level was then relayed to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, which tracked and totaled the costs to present to the Governor.

In order to qualify for federal public assistance, counties must meet specific federal criteria:

• A record or near-record snowfall event must occur within the county;
• The costs to the county and municipalities for snow removal operations during a continuous 48-hour period and any other costs for emergency protective measures must exceed the county per capita threshold of $3.23; and
• The total costs of all counties meeting both criteria must exceed the state threshold of $15.9 million.

Nineteen counties met the snow threshold and have estimated public assistance costs—including snow assistance costs within a 48-hour period—that equal or exceed the county per capita cost threshold required for a major disaster declaration.

The counties that met the required snow and public assistance thresholds are: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Perry, Philadelphia, Somerset, Westmoreland and York.

Additional counties included in the Governor's request are: Beaver, Butler, Chester, Fulton, Greene, Indiana, Lebanon and Washington. These counties are included because they met the public assistance thresholds and nearly met the required snow thresholds.

Estimated eligible costs for the 19 counties that met both the snow and public assistance thresholds total $41,265,276.  The estimated costs for the eight counties that met their public assistance threshold total $8,794,195.  The overall estimated total costs that are associated with this request are $50,059,471, which exceeds the state public assistance threshold of $15,842,560.

"These two storms, combined with one at the end of the month, brought the most snowfall of any February on record in Pennsylvania, and the second largest snowfall total of any one-month period on record," said Governor Rendell. "The scope and timing of the storms in early February placed a nearly unparalleled burden on local and county budgets. These counties desperately need this assistance."

It is not known when the President will make a decision to grant or deny disaster assistance.

Editor's note: A copy of Governor Rendell's letter to President Obama is available upon request of either media contact. The estimated eligible cost for the 19 counties meeting both the snow and public assistance thresholds and the overall estimated total costs are referenced in the letter as $39,825,622 and $48,619,817, respectively. This differs from the figure contained in this news release due to additional information that PEMA received after the letter was finalized and sent.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor