Casey Calls FEMA Administrator to Urge Fast Approval of PA Request for Public Assistance
MONTOURSVILLE, PA – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today toured damage to infrastructure and businesses and received an update on the region’s recovery from last month’s devastating floods.
“With damage in Pennsylvania expected to run in the hundreds of millions of dollars and municipal budgets already stretched, federal assistance is necessary to help Pennsylvanians recover from the devastating floods,” said Senator Casey. “The damage to infrastructure I saw today in Montoursville reinforced the importance of ensuring all appropriate resources are available to help our communities recover.”
Senator Casey today called FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to urge the approval of Pennsylvania’s request for Public Assistance as a result of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Senator Casey pressed Fugate to provide up to 85 percent of the cost of public assistance instead of the typical 75 percent because of the extent of the damage.
Senator Casey is also urging the U.S. Small Business Administration to lower interest rates on disaster relief loans to make it easier for businesses to reopen, rehire and recover lost revenue.
In Montoursville, Senator Casey toured damage to Indian Park, the on-ramps to I-180 that remain closed and the Lycoming Valley Railroad Bridge. He was joined by Montoursville Mayor John Dorin, Lycoming County Emergency Management Director Richard Knecht, Lycoming County Commissioner Ernie Larson, Lycoming County Planner Bill Kelly and Director of Public Safety John Yingling.
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