HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell is asking federal officals to examine whether the Pittsburgh-area counties that were hit by severe storms last week qualify for federal disaster relief.
Rendell made the request Tuesday of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency and the
Small Business Administration.
Major damage was done by storms in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties on Wednesday night.
In Pittsburgh, the rainfall set a record and was the heaviest since remnants of Hurricane Ivan caused severe flooding in 2004.
Allegheny and Westmoreland declared their own local states of emergency quickly after the storms did their damage. A local emergency declaration is the first step toward seeking aid at a higher level.
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