In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, President Joe Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for Southeastern Pennsylvania. The designation includes Montgomery County, which now allows storm-affected residents to apply for direct aid. Erin McCarthy and Justine McDaniel covered the relief for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

According to Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) officials, Hurricane Ida caused over $100 million in public infrastructure damage. The losses are significantly above the $19 million threshold for federal government public assistance.

Following a preliminary onsite assessment of the damage, Gov. Tom Wolf requested the federal disaster declaration mid-last week.

Residents in Montgomery County and the nearby counties under the declaration can apply for federal aid here or by calling 1-800-621-3362.

“Pennsylvanians continue to recover from this deadly storm, which is why my administration made it a top priority to quickly seek federal assistance,” said Wolf on Friday, acknowledging Biden’s approval of his disaster request.

“I’m grateful our president has responded swiftly, and the federal government worked with state and local officials to conduct damage assessments and determined that Pennsylvanians are deserving of this critical federal aid,” he added.

Local residents will be able to receive assistance applying for aid and checking on the status of federal aid.

Read more about federal aid in Montgomery County and nearby counties in The Philadelphia Inquirer.