HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — President Barack Obama has signed a disaster declaration making federal funds available in 16 counties damaged by Hurricane Sandy from Oct. 26 through Nov. 8.
The decree signed Thursday means federal funding is available to state and local governments and some private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and repairing or replacing facilities damaged or destroyed by the storm.
The decree applied to damage that must be repaired in Bedford, Bucks, Cameron, Dauphin, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Potter, Somerset, Sullivan and Wyoming counties.
The decree also makes federal money available for certain storm-related hazard mitigation efforts statewide.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency says more disaster relief could be approved in the future if ongoing damage assessments show it's needed.
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