Stoystown, PA – Today the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) met with Somerset County emergency management and government leaders to underscore the Shapiro Administration’s commitment to keeping Pennsylvania communities safe with critical investments in public safety in its recent budget. Among other important increases, the 2025-26 budget invests in two significant ways, by:
- Doubling the amount of funding available from $20 million to $40 million to enable state agencies to respond to disasters in the Commonwealth; and,
- Providing an additional $5 million in funding to the Commonwealth Disaster Recovery Assistance Program (DRAP) to directly support Pennsylvanians in recovery from disasters.
Increasing the investment in disaster response and recovery is essential to protecting the safety and long-term resilience of communities across Pennsylvania. This funding ensures that PEMA and our state agency partners can respond quickly, coordinate resources efficiently, and support impacted families, communities and businesses throughout the response and recovery process.
— Randy Padfield, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director
In the budget, $5 million is earmarked for the DRAP, which awards grants directly to eligible homeowners and renters who meet lower income thresholds, are uninsured or underinsured, or have not received other local, state, federal, non-governmental, or private aid. For those who qualify, DRAP grants can be used to repair housing, cover temporary housing and rental expenses, or replace essential personal property.
DRAP provided $153,820 in grants to 27 eligible Somerset County households after devastating flooding damaged homes and destroyed property in May.
“DRAP was a critical piece of the recovery puzzle for those who were affected by the devastating flooding in May,” said Somerset County Emergency Management Director Joel Landis. “The recovery process takes months and even years, so DRAP grants are part of a solid foundation that gets people back on their feet after they’ve faced an unexpected life-threatening emergency and the challenges that follow.”
Since DRAP was established in 2023, the program has provided more than $450,000 in assistance after a variety of disasters, including the Somerset County flooding and fires in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
“The flooding in Somerset County reminded us of our vulnerability as well as our strength,” said Somerset County Commissioners Chairman Brian Fochtman. “We are deeply grateful for the compassion and generosity showed during that time by our residents, first responders and local organizations that stepped up immediately to help their friends and neighbors, and for our partners at the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, who helped us establish the Somerset County Disaster Recovery Fund. That fund helped our county last spring, and will continue to support those affected by disaster in the years to come.”
In addition to the DRAP funding, the 2025-26 budget doubles the amount of money available to state agencies to pay for costs associated with state agency response to disasters and emergencies from $20 million to $40 million.
PEMA also has been authorized to establish a new Commonwealth Public Assistance program to assist communities recovering from disasters. As the infrastructure damage thresholds to request federal assistance rise, Pennsylvania will stand ready to help eligible municipalities make needed repairs to damaged critical public infrastructure not paid for by insurance or other funding sources.
Learn more about the Shapiro Administration’s efforts to support working families, invest in education and create more opportunities for Pennsylvanians in the Governor’s 2025-2026 budget.