Office of Emergency Management: Jeffrey Kolakowski - July 30, 2021
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced this week that there are low-interest loans available for several counties, including Philadelphia, that experienced damage from July 12’s severe storm that produced damaging flooding to property.
The assistance, from the U.S. Small Business Administration, is the same aid the state received from Tropical Storm Isaias last summer which was made available to city residents and businesses.
According to preliminary information from the Philadelphia Water Department, heavy rainfall on July 12 produced between 5.1 and 6.4 inches, roughly double the average amount of rain for all of July, within three hours in some neighborhoods in the far Northeast. Flash flooding prompted an emergency response from City departments and partners that day and through the following weeks to see what storm recovery aid was needed.
To help recover from the storm and to mitigate future damage, several Pennsylvania counties’ residents, businesses, and non-profit organizations can seek help in the form of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest loans for damaged property, including homes and vehicles.
Governor Wolf was able to secure this resource in part due to information provided by residents and businesses in Philadelphia to the city’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM). Information was collected through an online form, calls to Philadelphia’s non-emergency number 311, and in neighborhoods at OEM and state information and resource centers.
Along with Philadelphia, other eligible areas in Pennsylvania for the SBA program include Bucks, Bradford, Delaware, Lehigh, Lycoming, Montgomery, Northampton, Potter, and Tioga counties.
To learn how to apply, click here