Federal Government Will Release Money to Help Pay for Hurricane Sandy Clean Up

Snydersville, Monroe County - The Federal Government says Pennsylvania will get federal disaster aid to help pay for damage from Hurricane Sandy. President Obama's disaster declaration means the hardest hit counties can get money to repair damage to public property.

Pennsylvania has 16 counties eligible for aid. There are five in the Eyewitness News viewing area. Those are Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Wyoming, and Sullivan.

Clean up fees, overtime costs, and extensive damage repair bills and up to more than half a million dollars of unexpected expenses in Monroe County.

Now municipalities will be able to replenish some of their funds with reimbursements from the federal government. Monroe County Emergency Planner Maryellen Keegan said, "It's just good that the money is coming into our area, that we can reimburse these response agencies that are already strapped for money and municipalities that are strapped for money."

Community leaders will have to take several steps before they get the cash. First, they will have to meet with federal and state emergency management representatives. Keegan explained, "Representatives from FEMA and PEMA will come out and explain to each one of the agency representatives what forms need to be filled out and the process."

Then the agencies will review claims and reimburse municipalities. It can take a while. Some communities are still waiting to receive money from damages due to Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011.

While the government will pay for damage to public property, it will not pay for damage to private property. Pennsylvania did not meet the government criteria to get assistance for individuals. For more information on that click http://pahomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=306762