NRCS assessing flood damage in western PA

By Blake Jackson

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is assessing flood damage in Western Pennsylvania caused by April's heavy rainfall. A rapid survey aims to determine if these events qualify impacted properties for the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program.

The EWP program assists communities recovering from severe flooding by stabilizing damaged streambanks and mitigating future hazards. Homeowners, businesses, and public utilities located within specific distances of streams may be eligible if they have experienced significant streambank erosion. Damage to structures caused by floodwater itself is not covered.

The survey helps NRCS officials determine if a county qualifies for the EWP program. Property owners who suspect they meet eligibility requirements can find the survey and program details at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/ewp-emergency-watershed-protection/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-emergency. They can also contact their local NRCS office (https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov) for assistance. The deadline to complete the survey is May 17, 2024.

Based on the survey results, NRCS will notify eligible counties if the EWP program is available in their area. This notification will include details on program benefits and next steps. It's important to note that program availability is not guaranteed.

If a county qualifies, NRCS can provide grant funding (covering 75% of construction costs) to local governments sponsoring recovery efforts. The NRCS cannot directly contract with individual landowners, so program participation hinges on local government sponsorship. More information, including a detailed EWP Sponsor Guide, can be found on the PA EWP website.

Photo Credit: usda-nrcs