HARRISBURG – Senator Camera Bartolotta (R-46) joined other members of the Senate today in voting to extend the state disaster emergency declared in response to Hurricane Ida until Oct. 27, giving Pennsylvanians more time to apply for recovery assistance.
Gov. Tom Wolf issued a 21-day proclamation declaring the disaster emergency on August 31. Following extended pandemic emergency declarations over the last year, and the governor’s refusal to work with elected officials in the House and Senate, voters in May stripped him of the authority he commandeered to extend emergency declarations without approval of the General Assembly.
“While I wish that families in the Commonwealth would not have been impacted by Hurricane Ida and there would be no need for an emergency declaration, this is the perfect example of how a declaration should be used,” Senator Bartolotta said. “As designed, the General Assembly acted swiftly to help Pennsylvanians in need.”
Action by the General Assembly to extend the emergency declaration will help communities with their recovery efforts, which are expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
The remnants of Hurricane Ida brought historic rainfall to Pennsylvania, causing record flooding and widespread damage in many places. Nearly 400 roads were closed statewide, while downed trees and limbs disrupted utilities and left more than 15 major interstates, roadways and expressways closed.
CONTACT: Katrina Hanna, 717-787-1463