News Release

USDA Accepting Applications for Disaster Assistance in Pennsylvania

Contact:
Molly Hippensteel
717-237-2208

USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Denise Coleman today announced that Pennsylvania is currently taking applications for natural disaster recovery efforts in Berks, Bradford, Chester, Columbia, Dauphin, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming, and York Counties. Applications will be taken until October 15, 2018. The funding will enable NRCS to assist local government entities in stabilizing severely eroding stream banks that threaten homes, business, and utilities. This funding will be used to help restore streams whose natural flows were disrupted by the flooding from the July 21, 2018 storm or later.

"These funds will provide critical assistance to Pennsylvania residents and businesses and continue the federal partnership for environmental restoration projects on private lands damaged by natural disaster," Coleman said.

The funding is being made available through the NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program. EWP assists with the implementation of critical emergency measures needed to address public safety and restoration efforts. Typical streambank restoration projects funded under EWP include removing debris from waterways, protecting eroded stream banks, reseeding damaged areas, and in some cases, purchasing floodplain easements on eligible land. Maintenance and repair of existing structures along a waterway are not eligible for funding.

Eligible sites must have a home (permanent residence) or business located within 50’ of a stream and have experienced severe streambank damage. Examples include several feet or more of bank loss, exposed foundations, or the total failure of existing streambank structures. Damage to homes and businesses caused by high flood water is not eligible for assistance.

Through EWP, NRCS provides up to 75 percent of the construction funds needed to restore areas damaged by flooding. The community, local, or state sponsor for the work must pay the remaining costs, which can be provided by cash and/or in-kind services. Program policy does not allow NRCS to directly contract with individual landowners.

Please contact your local NRCS office, found at http://offices.usda.gov, for more information.

NRCS provides products and services that enable people to be good stewards of the nation's soil, water, and related natural resources on non-Federal lands. Additional information about EWP and other USDA conservation programs is available at your local USDA Service Center and online at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov under “Programs and Services.”