Inspectors with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are on the ground assessing losses in Bucks County from the remnants of Hurricane Ida after aid was made available to eligible families and individuals affected by the storm.
The application period for the federal Individual Assistance programs opened Friday when President Joseph R. Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration related to the early-September storm. The declaration came in response to a request from Gov. Tom Wolf.
“When Ida tore through our region, it left a trail of heartbreak and devastation,” said county commissioner Bob Harvie. “Thanks to this aid from FEMA, Bucks County residents will be able to build back from the destruction toward a much-needed sense of safety and security. We are grateful to all of our local, state and federal partners whose hard work during some dark days was critical in unlocking this assistance.”
Damage from flooding and strong winds produced by the remnants of Hurricane Ida, which dumped more than 10 inches of rain in some places and brought three tornadoes to Bucks County, was widespread both in Bucks and across the region.
The county so far has received hundreds of reports of damage to residences.
PHOTO: Dried dirt and grass on the door of a Central Bucks home reveal how high damaging flood waters swelled when the remnants of Hurricane Ida brought heavy rain to the region.
FEMA provides individual assistance to eligible homeowners and renters whose homes, vehicles or personal property sustained damage during disasters specified in a presidential declaration.
Registration for Individual Assistance programs remains open for 60 days following a declaration. Those eligible for aid often receive assistance within a few days of applying.
To apply for aid, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or visit DisasterAssistance.gov.
Media Contact: James O’Malley, 215-348-6414, [email protected]