Tour is part of effort to appeal rejection of federal disaster declaration

PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato today announced that representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be returning on Fri., July 31, to evaluate additional damage reported since the preliminary assessment was conducted after the severe storms and flooding on June 17.

“There are residents and business owners who are still struggling to repair damage and get back on their feet,” said Onorato. “As often happens after flooding, people are still discovering water damage and other negative effects weeks later. We need to paint a clear picture for FEMA of just how severe the impact has been on homes, businesses and communities.”

FEMA rejected the Commonwealth’s request for a disaster declaration for Allegheny and Westmoreland counties on July 17. Officials from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Allegheny County, Westmoreland County, Turtle Creek, Wilkins Township, Pitcairn, Forest Hills, Edgewood and Pittsburgh met on July 21 and agreed to appeal FEMA’s decision.

“It is important that we all work together to provide overwhelming evidence of damage so FEMA reverses its initial decision,” added Onorato. “I am urging officials in the affected municipalities to work with the County’s Department of Emergency Services to identify any previously unreported damage related to the storms and flooding on June 17.”

As part of the appeal process, Allegheny County has requested the following information from affected municipalities: new damage reported since the preliminary damage assessment was conducted; health, safety, and personal impact on residents; number of individuals still displaced; economic impact on municipalities; individual financial burden; damages not covered by insurance; commercial impact and economic losses; custodial care enrollment; and additional structures declared unsafe.

# # #

 Print Version