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January 17, 2025 - Reading, PA

Supporting Pennsylvanians After Disaster Strikes: Shapiro Administration Has Distributed Nearly $270,000 to Help Pennsylvanians Rebuild through the Commonwealth's Disaster Recovery Assistance Program

The Shapiro Administration today highlighted the recovery efforts in Berks County made possible through the Commonwealth Disaster Recovery Assistance Program (DRAP). The grant program was activated 18 months ago for the first time since the law went into effect as Governor Shapiro vowed to provide aid to Berks County following devastating flooding resulting from heavy rainfall on July 9, 2023.

"Immediately following the Berks County flooding, Governor Shapiro promised residents that his Administration would work with state and local officials and volunteer organizations to help them recover from these storms." said Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield. "We delivered on that promise using a whole community approach with our VOAD partners and activated the Commonwealth's Disaster Recovery Program, distributing nearly $125,000 in state recovery dollars directly to impacted residents of Berks County who needed this critical financial support."

Speaker list:
Randy Padfield, Director, PEMA
Senator Judy Schwank
Brian Gottschall, Director, Berks County Department of Emergency Services
Julia Frank, President, Pennsylvania Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (PAVOAD)



Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield joined state and local leaders to discuss recovery efforts 18-months after devastating flooding impacted residents of Berks County in July 2023. Pictured here is PEMA Director Randy Padfield delivering remarks during the event.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27120_pema_disasterRecovery_JP_01.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield joined state and local leaders to discuss recovery efforts 18-months after devastating flooding impacted residents of Berks County in July 2023. Pictured here is PEMA Director Randy Padfield delivering remarks during the event.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27120_pema_disasterRecovery_JP_02.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield joined state and local leaders to discuss recovery efforts 18-months after devastating flooding impacted residents of Berks County in July 2023. Pictured here is PEMA Director Randy Padfield delivering remarks during the event.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27120_pema_disasterRecovery_JP_03.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield joined state and local leaders to discuss recovery efforts 18-months after devastating flooding impacted residents of Berks County in July 2023. Pictured here is PEMA Director Randy Padfield delivering remarks during the event.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27120_pema_disasterRecovery_JP_04.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield joined state and local leaders to discuss recovery efforts 18-months after devastating flooding impacted residents of Berks County in July 2023. Pictured here is Senator Judy Schwank delivering remarks during the event.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27120_pema_disasterRecovery_JP_05.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield joined state and local leaders to discuss recovery efforts 18-months after devastating flooding impacted residents of Berks County in July 2023. Pictured here is Senator Judy Schwank delivering remarks during the event.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27120_pema_disasterRecovery_JP_06.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield joined state and local leaders to discuss recovery efforts 18-months after devastating flooding impacted residents of Berks County in July 2023. Pictured here is Senator Judy Schwank delivering remarks during the event.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27120_pema_disasterRecovery_JP_07.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield joined state and local leaders to discuss recovery efforts 18-months after devastating flooding impacted residents of Berks County in July 2023. Pictured here is Senator Judy Schwank delivering remarks during the event.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27120_pema_disasterRecovery_JP_08.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield joined state and local leaders to discuss recovery efforts 18-months after devastating flooding impacted residents of Berks County in July 2023. Pictured here is Berks County Department of Emergency Services Director Brian Gottschall delivering remarks during the event.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27120_pema_disasterRecovery_JP_09.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield joined state and local leaders to discuss recovery efforts 18-months after devastating flooding impacted residents of Berks County in July 2023. Pictured here is Berks County Department of Emergency Services Director Brian Gottschall delivering remarks during the event.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27120_pema_disasterRecovery_JP_10.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield joined state and local leaders to discuss recovery efforts 18-months after devastating flooding impacted residents of Berks County in July 2023. Pictured here is Berks County Department of Emergency Services Director Brian Gottschall delivering remarks during the event.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27120_pema_disasterRecovery_JP_11.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield joined state and local leaders to discuss recovery efforts 18-months after devastating flooding impacted residents of Berks County in July 2023. Pictured here is a moment from the event.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27120_pema_disasterRecovery_JP_12.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield joined state and local leaders to discuss recovery efforts 18-months after devastating flooding impacted residents of Berks County in July 2023. Pictured here is Pennsylvania Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (PAVOAD) President Julia Frank delivering remarks during the event.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27120_pema_disasterRecovery_JP_13.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield joined state and local leaders to discuss recovery efforts 18-months after devastating flooding impacted residents of Berks County in July 2023. Pictured here is Pennsylvania Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (PAVOAD) President Julia Frank delivering remarks during the event.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27120_pema_disasterRecovery_JP_14.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield joined state and local leaders to discuss recovery efforts 18-months after devastating flooding impacted residents of Berks County in July 2023. Pictured here is Pennsylvania Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (PAVOAD) President Julia Frank delivering remarks during the event.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27120_pema_disasterRecovery_JP_15.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield joined state and local leaders to discuss recovery efforts 18-months after devastating flooding impacted residents of Berks County in July 2023. Pictured here is Pennsylvania Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (PAVOAD) President Julia Frank delivering remarks during the event.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27120_pema_disasterRecovery_JP_16.jpg" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a>