President Signs Emergency Declaration for PA

President Barack Obama has signed an emergency declaration for Pennsylvania early Monday morning, according to a release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The declaration allows the state to acquire federal money and other aid to assist with recovery from hurricane Sandy from Oct 29 onward.

From FEMA:

The President's action authorizes FEMA to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in all counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.  Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.