Hurricane Ida: New Swift Current Initiative to support flood mitigation; apply April 1-Oct. 3, 2022

(March 25, 2022)

PA receives $5 million for flood mitigation through Swift Current Initiative in response to Hurricane Ida

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that Pennsylvania will receive $5 million in federal funding to support in mitigation against future damage from natural disasters, through the Swift Current Initiative. The application period for Swift Current opens on April 1, 2022, and closes on Oct. 3, 2022. Check with county government to learn about any earlier deadlines.

Homeowners who are interested in this program should contact their local municipality or county emergency management agency for more information.

If homeowners experience issues, they can reach out to Tom Hughes at the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency at 717-651-2726 or thughes@pa.gov.

Properties that are covered by a policy through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and have sustained repetitive losses due to flooding are eligible for the new Swift Current Initiative, which is the first FEMA initiative to be funded through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Louisiana, New York and New Jersey also will receive Swift Current funding.

The local government in which the property is located is considered the sub-applicant and will work with interested property owners to develop a sub-application. The local government will submit the sub-application to the state on property owner’s behalf, and the state will submit the application to FEMA. FEMA will select projects based on eligibility and funding available.

The following project types are eligible to participate in Swift Current even if an insurance claim has been filed:

  • Property Acquisition and Structure Demolition/Relocation;

  • Nonstructural Retrofitting of Existing Buildings and Facilities;

  • Structure Elevation;

  • Mitigation Reconstruction;

  • Dry Floodproofing of Historic Residential Structures or Non-Residential Structures; and

  • Structural Retrofitting of Existing Buildings.

The exact process and timeline for project implementation will vary based on the project type. Once the property has been selected for mitigation, the local government will contact the property owner on how to move forward with the project.

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