HARRISBURG – Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) today applauded news that the federal government has issued a major disaster declaration in the Commonwealth, paving the way for much-needed aid for victims of last month’s flooding.

“This is great news for the people of northeastern Potter County who were hit hard by flash flooding as the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby passed through the area on Aug. 9,” Causer said. “I commend our Potter County Department of Emergency Services, county commissioners, local officials and residents for being diligent in their accounting of the local damages, as it played a key role in this decision.”

The declaration issued late Wednesday afternoon means residents who suffered damage during the flooding will be eligible for Individual Assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The program provides direct benefits to homeowners and renters to assist with uninsured or under-insured necessary expenses and serious needs because of the disaster. The program can help with temporary rentals, lodging reimbursement, home repairs and replacement, as well as some personal property, medical, and dental expenses incurred due to the flooding.

Details about how to obtain assistance through the program will be available soon as FEMA works with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) to open Disaster Recovery Centers in the four-county region covered by the declaration. The centers will be staffed to assist residents with documentation reviews to help expedite applications for assistance.

In addition to Potter County, the declaration applies to Lycoming, Tioga and Union counties.