Governor Wolf Requests Federal Disaster Aid for Western PA Landslide Damage
Governor
"The string of severe storms across much of western
The major disaster declaration through the
The overall total costs associated with this request, as validated by the Joint Preliminary Damage Assessment conducted by PEMA,
The governor signed a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency, which is a required step in order to request federal aid, for this incident on
You may read the letter below, view it as a PDF (https://www.governor.pa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/20180622-Letter-President-Trump-Request-Disaster-Aid-Western-PApdf.pdf) or see it on
Letter to President
The Honorable
President of
The
Through: Ms.
Administrator
FEMA Region III
Dear Mr. President:
Under the provisions of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. * 5170 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 CFR * 206.36, I request that you declare a major disaster for the
I. STATE OF EMERGENCY
On
The active weather pattern,
II. HEAVY RAIN, SNOWMELT, SEVERE FLASH FLOODING, AND LANDSLIDES
An active weather pattern established a nearly continuous series of storms with an anomalously high moisture supply during the period of
The antecedent conditions to the emergency declaration period were rather wet.
February is typically the second driest month on average for the
*
*
Dozens of devastating embankment failures and landslides were triggered following each of the multiple-day February precipitation events. Prior to 2018, no three-day or four-day rainfall event exceeded 3.0" during the month of February. Historically, PEMA found these rare heavy rain events spanning at least three consecutive days correlate with similar occurrences, specifically embankment failures and landslides in
* Embankment failures and widespread landslides are rare during the winter months.
* There is a high correlation between extreme precipitation and devastating embankment failures and widespread landslides in the
March featured several freeze and thaw cycles which allowed the surplus moisture to remain in soils. Then, the active weather pattern continued from late March through mid-April, with additional storms maintaining elevated soil moisture values which correlate with additional embankment failures and widespread landslides. During the 29-day period from
The unusually wet pattern for the
III. IMPACT ON THE COMMONWEALTH
The impact on the Commonwealth from this event can be examined from different perspectives, for example, human resources and infrastructure.
* Human Resources
* This event required state and local resources, including state and local road crews and equipment, and countless hours of staff time to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of Commonwealth citizens and property. The closure and slowing of transportation routes caused a ripple effect in the lack of access to timely emergency service response and access to other basic facilities.
* In addition, Voluntary Organizations Active in a Disaster (VOAD) provided resources and conducted activities in response to this event. For example:
*
* Pennsylvania VOADs provided material and personnel support to Emergency Support Function 6 (Mass Care) and Emergency Support Function 8 (Public Health) with shelter support and clean-up crews for residential properties. Additionally, these volunteers maintained communications and interagency coordination between PEMA's Commonwealth Response Coordination Center (CRCC) and member organizations for delivery of emergency assistance.
* Infrastructure
* The Commonwealth's infrastructure was also severely impacted by this disaster emergency. Transportation route closures affecting both state and local highways and roads through both urban and rural areas of the Commonwealth additionally taxed emergency management efforts at state and local levels.
*
IV. IMPACT ON THE COUNTIES
*
* Overall: The prolonged, heavy rainfall in
* Road Systems: Forty-three separate roadways were severely damaged or destroyed making travel routes impassable or dangerous.
* Residential Structures: Over 50 residential structures have been affected by the embankment failures and landslides, with 14 being destroyed.
* Actions Taken: In Allegheny County, local officials and emergency responders evacuated citizens from at-risk embankment failure and landslide areas, and monitored and compiled preliminary damage estimates. Emergency responders closed impassable roads. A local disaster emergency was declared in
*
* Overall: Prolonged, heavy rainfall caused embankment failures, landslides and flash flooding in
* Road Systems: Ten separate roadways were severely damaged or destroyed making travel routes impassable or dangerous.
* Actions Taken:
V. STATE AND LOCAL RESPONSE TO THE DISASTER
PEMA coordinated with the
The CRCC logistics section coordinated requests for unmet needs, such as site visits and damage assessments; and supported CRCC operations with information technology services, communications, provisioning of meals, security, and safety.
VI. RECENT DISASTER HISTORY
Over the last six months, I issued two proclamations of disaster emergency related to severe weather events. This is the first time that the Commonwealth has requested a major disaster declaration this year. The last major disaster declaration request for the Commonwealth was filed in May of 2017. Since then the Commonwealth has responded to several local flooding, snow, and ice events that did not meet the Commonwealth's per-capita threshold for supplemental federal assistance. Two of these severe weather events were declared disasters by the
VII. CURRENT DAMAGES
The Joint Preliminary Damage Assessments (JPDAs) were conducted with local governments, counties, state agencies and
Currently, all damages and costs currently appear to be in all categories of infrastructure costs. The current total amount of damages is approximately
Finally, I have designated Mr.
Sincerely,
Governor
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