HARRISBURG - Decisions about obtaining federal recovery aid for Superstorm Sandy are premature and will await damage assessments next week, Gov. Tom Corbett said Tuesday.
The key step involves a formal request for a presidential major disaster declaration covering specific Pennsylvania counties. This declaration is the gateway for several types of federal recovery aid.
"This is still an ongoing event for Pennsylvania," Mr. Corbett said, adding that damage assessments can start with Sandy's departure.
Mr. Corbett was among a half-dozen governors on a phone conference call Tuesday with President Barack Obama, whom the governor said is aware of continuing challenges from the storm.
"He (president) understands that Pennsylvania is still in play with the weather," said Mr. Corbett. "I want to thank the president and FEMA for what they have been doing on our behalf."
Mr. Obama issued a more limited emergency declaration Monday for Pennsylvania that provides federal aid to supplement state and local emergency preparations for Sandy starting last Friday.
A subsequent presidential major disaster declaration could pave the way for federal grants to individuals to meet disaster-related needs, housing for up to 18 months to displaced individuals and low-interest loans to businesses for property loss and economic losses or the opening of recovery centers. Such a declaration was issued in 2011 after Tropical Storm Lee.
The damage assessments done by state and county emergency management officials determine how comprehensive a declaration is, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It can cover individual assistance only, public assistance only, or both.
Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com