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The Lycoming County Commissioners approved an Emergency Disaster Declaration for the Lairdsville-Franklin Township area paving the way for property owners to apply for assistance in repairing the damage to buildings when an EF-1 tornado blew through there earlier this month.
About 25 homes and a large barn were impacted in the rural area, located about 7 miles east of Hughesville.
"Many people are suffering great damage to their homes," said Commissioner Scott Metzger.
"By declaring the area an emergency disaster, it sets the stage so that there is money available that could be allocated to them if need be, Metzger said.
Many of the property owners do have insurance, Metzger noted, adding, "but there are some that don't and do need assistance, maybe this will be an avenue that they could gain access to that assistance."
Aid coming through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) does require a minimum amount of damages in order for homeowners to qualify for assistance.
"One the challenges we face is that under the federal regulations, we need $20 million in damage in order to qualify for aid through FEMA)-PEMA," Commissioner Rick Mirabito said.
"I think we ought to look closely to see if there isn't a way through the American Rescue Plan funds that we could examine the damage that was done and the relationship between the damage and the five categories that are permitted under the ARP, in particular the categories related to water," Mirabito stated.
Noting that the median household income in Lairdsville is around $28,000, Mirabito said, "I'd hate to see us in a situation where we don't meet the federal threshold and we still have a community with a very low income level."
"If there is a way that we can try to use some of the ARP funds to help out in this tragedy, I think it would go a long way towards helping that community rebuild," Mirabito said.
Although Mirabito was thinking in terms of water damage to the properties, Shannon Rossman, Planning and Community Development Director, who was at the meeting, suggested that there might be something available under the housing category.
"Maybe we can explore that," Mirabito said.
Even homeowners who have insurance, have deductibles and things that are not covered by insurance, Mirabito said.
Immediately following the storm, it remained unknown if the storm, with winds in excess of 80 miles per hour, would be classified as a tornado. The event lasted about four minutes and cut a path 8.9 miles and up to 500 yards wide.
"It was great to see the community that came together after this tragedy. To see people not just from Lairdsville, but the eastern end of the county, Muncy, Hughesville, Montgomery. Contractors that were boarding up windows, putting tarps over roofs...trying to keep those homes dry as the adjusters are coming out trying to get them the help they need for their homes," Metzger said.