Disaster Relief
Ida Disaster and Recovery Resources
Hurricane Ida brought historic rain and flooding to the Lehigh Valley causing widespread damage to communities, homes, and businesses. As part of the ongoing relief efforts, my office has dedicated this page to sharing important information. We will regularly update this page as additional information and resources become available; in the meantime, my office also stands ready to assist you and your loved ones in any way possible.
The First Step: Report the Damages
If your home or business has sustained damages due to extreme weather, it’s imperative that you report the damage to your county ASAP so the Lehigh Valley can get as much funding and data as possible. Please report flood damage to the Emergency Management teams in Lehigh, Monroe, and Northampton counties.
About the FEMA Major Disaster Declaration
On September 24, 2021, President Biden approved several Major Disaster Declarations in Pennsylvania, including for residents who experienced damaged from Hurricane Ida in Northampton County.* The incident period for the declaration is from August 31, 2021 to Sep 5, 2021 and authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide federal disaster assistance to impacted areas. For more Information about FEMA’s support to Pennsylvania, visit fema.gov/disaster/4618.
(*Note: Lehigh and Monroe County businesses can access SBA disaster-related funds (see “Small Business Administration Assistance Available,” below), but residents are not yet able to access FEMA’s Individual Assistance. Currently, only residents of Northampton County are eligible to apply for Individual Assistance.)
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, (PEMA) will be working with its partners at FEMA, as well as with county governments, to organize and open several Disaster Recovery Centers in impacted communities. FEMA will have staff available at these centers to assist residents with the appropriate documents and speed up obtaining recovery aid. More information is available at www.PEMA.pa.gov/Ida
About Federal Disaster Assistance
Federal disaster assistance from FEMA may be available for certain expenses which are not covered by insurance policies (Homeowner, Renter, Flood, etc.) or from active Voluntary Agencies/Mass Care (emergency food, shelter, clothing, medical, etc.). Pennsylvania residents affected by Hurricane Ida are advised to contact their insurance company and file a claim for disaster-caused damage. For residents in counties with major disaster declarations (such as Northampton County), this can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the impact of Hurricane Ida and make their homes livable.
Registering for Individual Assistance
For individuals in counties with major disaster declarations (such as Northampton County), you can determine if you are eligible and apply in any one of these 3 ways:
· Online: https://www.disasterassistance.gov/
· Phone: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585
· App: FEMA App
You’ll need the following information to complete your registration:
· Social Security Number (SSN), or if you’re applying on behalf of a U.S. minor citizen in your household, you’ll need the SSN of the minor child in the household who is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien
· Annual household income
· Contact information (phone number, mailing address, email address, and damaged home address)
· Insurance information (coverage, insurance company name, etc.)
· Bank account information (if you are eligible to receive financial assistance, the money can be deposited in your account)
Small Business Administration Assistance Available
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in Pennsylvania following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration due to the remnants of Hurricane Ida on Aug.31 to Sept. 5, 2021.
Counties in the disaster declaration (such as Northampton) are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in adjacent counties (such as Lehigh and Monroe) are eligible to apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
Businesses and private nonprofits of any size who qualify may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ and should apply under SBA declaration #17165.