Lower Merion Seeks FEMA Funds for Irene, Lee

Lower Merion Township is applying for federal assistance for damages from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.

On Wednesday night, the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners' Public Works Committee recommended that the full board approve a resolution authorizing township Public Works Director Don Cannon to act as the township's agent when applying for financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for damages from the storms.

Lower Merion's Public Works Dept. is still cleaning up damage from Hurricane Irene.

Cannon told the committee that FEMA has approved Montgomery County’s disaster declaration for damages as a result of the hurricane and tropical storm, but in order to begin the application process for financial assistance, the Board of Commissioners must approve a resolution which appoints and authorizes an agent to complete all necessary forms and documents.

Cannon said he was requesting that he be the authorized agent for Lower Merion because some of the forms require a signature at on-site meetings.

Commissioner Scott Zelov asked what the amount of the township’s claim would be for storm damage.

Cannon said the township is still working on an estimate “but it’s in excess of $100,000.”

Cannon said the township’s Public Works Department is still in the process of cleaning up downed trees and branches from Hurricane Irene.