STOYSTOWN, PA — State officials on Monday unveiled a major expansion of Pennsylvania’s disaster response and recovery funding, signaling a push to strengthen public safety as federal support grows less reliable.
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency met with Somerset County leaders to highlight new investments secured in the Shapiro Administration’s 2025–26 budget, which sharply increases state resources available when disasters strike. The plan doubles disaster response funding for state agencies from $20 million to $40 million and adds an additional $5 million to the Commonwealth Disaster Recovery Assistance Program, known as DRAP.
PEMA Director Randy Padfield said the increased funding is designed to ensure rapid, coordinated responses while helping communities recover long after emergency crews leave. He said the added investment will allow state agencies to mobilize quickly, manage resources more effectively, and provide sustained support to families, businesses, and local governments hit by disasters.
The $5 million increase for DRAP is aimed directly at Pennsylvanians recovering from disasters who may fall through the cracks of traditional aid programs. DRAP grants are available to eligible homeowners and renters who meet lower-income thresholds, are uninsured or underinsured, or have not received other forms of assistance. The funds can be used for housing repairs, temporary housing or rental costs, and replacing essential personal property.
In Somerset County alone, DRAP distributed $153,820 in grants to 27 households after severe flooding in May damaged homes and destroyed property. County Emergency Management Director Joel Landis said the grants played a critical role in helping residents begin the long recovery process, which often stretches months or years beyond the initial disaster.
Since its creation in 2023, DRAP has delivered more than $450,000 in assistance following disasters across the Commonwealth, including flooding in Somerset County and fires in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Beyond DRAP, the budget authorizes PEMA to establish a new Commonwealth Public Assistance program to help municipalities repair critical public infrastructure damaged by disasters. State officials said the move is intended to close gaps as federal thresholds for disaster aid continue to rise, leaving some communities without access to national assistance.
Somerset County Commission Chairman Brian Fochtman said the flooding earlier this year revealed both the county’s vulnerability and resilience, crediting local responders, residents, and state partners for helping the community recover.
Administration officials framed the investments as part of a broader effort to prepare Pennsylvania for increasingly frequent and costly disasters, emphasizing that the expanded funding is meant to ensure communities are not left waiting for help when emergencies hit.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.