Over $9 million in federal funds have been earmarked for Montgomery County's reconstruction efforts following the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Ida, as announced by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. This significant financial support, originating from the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR), comes courtesy of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The money will go towards housing rehabilitation and infrastructure revamp across the affected areas.
Addressing the challenges posed by climate change. "Climate change is real, so we can anticipate an increased frequency in damaging storms like Ida," Neil K. Makhija, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, said in a statement. A point of gratitude was directed toward the Shapiro Administration for the role they played in facilitating the county's recovery process.
Discussing the role of the government in post-disaster scenarios, Vice Chair Jamila H. Winder emphasized the necessity of supporting residents who had fallen through the cracks of insurance coverage. "Good government steps up to help those most in need, and that includes our residents whose insurance has not covered necessary home repairs in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida," Montgomery County reports. These funds are expected to invigorate not only the affected families but the overall municipality as they aim towards rejuvenating public spaces within communities.
Thomas DiBello, Montgomery County Commissioner, highlighted the enduring impact of Hurricane Ida. “Hurricane Ida was one of the strongest storms in our County’s recent history, and there are still residents and municipalities trying to build back what they lost," DiBello told Montgomery County. The CDBG-DR grant is set to allot approximately $7.2 million for countywide housing rehabilitation and buyout programs with the intent to aid families that were severely hit by the storm.
