DEP and PEMA have combined funding sources to provide the non-federal 25% cost share required for the federal Emergency Watershed Protection Program, administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, unlocking funding to aid watershed recovery efforts in nine counties impacted by the August 2024 flooding.
“Flooding and stream issues are consistently among the most pressing environmental concerns we hear about from our communities across the Commonwealth,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “DEP was pleased to provide Clean Water Funds (CWF) to help get stuff done for residents, property owners, and businesses impacted by flooding.”
The funding for Tropical Storm Debby relief will allow for implementation of 79 projects in the following nine counties: Cameron, Elk, Huntingdon, Lycoming, Potter, Tioga, Snyder, Susquehanna, and Union.
“The flooding from Tropical Storm Debby in August 2024 left many northcentral Pennsylvania creeks and streams in disrepair, making residents and communities vulnerable to future flooding,” said PEMA Director Randy Padfield. “Securing funding from the Emergency Watershed Program is a huge win for these communities, helping to ensure ongoing recovery efforts include lessening the potential for flooding in the future, building greater resilience in these watersheds for the next storm.”
“The Tioga County Commissioners are grateful to work with partners at the state level and to get the money that our community needs across the finish line,” said Tioga County Commissioner Marc Rice. “The people of Tioga County expect government at the local, state, and federal levels to work together smoothly for the Tropical Storm Debby recovery. Working together to get this money is an example of good governance at multiple levels to deliver assistance to people in Tioga County.”
According to NRCS, the EWP Program is designed for installation of recovery measures to safeguard life and property as a result of a natural disaster.
Threats that the EWP Program addresses include debris-clogged waterways, unstable streambanks, and severe erosion.
“USDA NRCS is happy to work in partnership with DEP, PEMA, and county conservation districts to stabilize streambanks that were destroyed during Hurricane Debby,” said State Conservationist with NRCS Denise Coleman. “Each of these sites had a home or business within fifty feet of the stream. By leveraging state funding through DEP and PEMA, USDA NRCS was able to access the federal EWP Program that provided seventy-five percent of the cost to restore streambanks, as well as engineering assistance to protect lives, livelihoods, and property.”
This EWP funding comes as another layer of support to the recovery efforts which began immediately following the flooding in August 2024.
Governor Shapiro quickly issued a Commonwealth proclamation of disaster emergency for 21 counties on August 9, 2024, and amended it to 28 counties on August 20, 2024, to provide immediate response and recovery assistance to affected Pennsylvanians.
The Governor’s disaster declaration allowed the Commonwealth quick access to state funding and provided state agencies with the resources needed to assist counties and municipalities with recovery efforts.
Commonwealth teams quickly responded to the region to provide assistance for county and municipal governments, and to provide access to critical resources like access to documents such as drivers licenses and birth certificates to those who lost them in the flooding.
The Shapiro administration requested and successfully received a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration, opening recovery aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for both the Individual Assistance program for families and households and Public Assistance program for community infrastructure and reimbursement of local costs.
Additionally, the administration secured a declaration for low interest loans and economic injury for homeowners, renters, and businesses.
Plus, the Commonwealth received additional federal hazard mitigation grant funding for the entire Commonwealth to reduce the impacts of future flooding and other hazards like what occurred during Tropical Storm Debby.
Click Here for the DEP/PEMA announcement.
Upcoming Event
-- August 7-- Virtual. Sustainable Pittsburgh Hosts Webinar On Stormwater Management And Hazard Mitigation For Municipalities. Noon to 1:15 p.m.
Related Articles This Week:
-- DEP, PEMA Announce Matching Funding For More Than $6 Million In NRCS Flood Recovery Projects In 9 Counties Related To Damage From Tropical Storm Debby In 2024 [PaEN]
-- DCNR: Using Natural Solutions, Engineering Upgrades And Technology-Based Mapping To Prevent Flooding [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Tribune-Democrat: Anniversary Of 1977 Johnstown Flood That Killed 140 People, Recent Disaster In Texas Prompt Thoughts Of Safety
-- TribLive: Flash Flood Warnings Surge To 20-Year High Across Western PA
-- PA Capital-Star: In A Summer Marked By Flash Floods, PA Lawmaker Wants Homeowners To Be Aware Of Flood Risks
-- York Dispatch Guest Essay: The Flash-Flood Era Is Here, And We’re Not Ready - By Bloomberg Opinion
-- TribLive: Western PA Storms Impact Power, Roads In Allegheny, Westmoreland Counties
-- Centre Daily Times: Power Restored To State College Area After Thousands Reported Outages Again
-- Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader: Storm Damages Luzerne County-Owned Infrastructure
-- WNEP: Swift Floodwaters Cause Chaos For Campers, Animals In Luzerne County
-- WNEP: Flooded Roads Disrupt Sullivan, Lycoming Counties, Closes Roads
-- LancasterOnline: Dozens Of Water Rescues, Flooded Homes Report In Lancaster County Monday
-- Post-Gazette Editorial: The Real Reason Four Mile Run Is Still A Flood Trap In Pittsburgh [Local Politicians Opposed Green Solutions & Offered None Of Their Own]
-- PennLive: PA Farms, Food At Risk From Too Much Rain: ‘There Is No Normal Anymore’
-- WESA - Rachel McDevitt: PA Could Foot More Of The Bill For Disaster Response Under Proposed FEMA Cuts
-- Republican Herald: PEMA Urges FEMA To Reconsider Cuts, Changes That Would Impact Communities
-- WHYY: PA, DE, NJ Sue President’s FEMA Over End Of Grant Program That Helps States Prevent Flooding
[Posted: July 19, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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