Two months after a severe thunderstorm ripped through Delaware County, causing extensive damage, County Council welcomed news that storm-ravaged areas are now eligible for state assistance.

County Council Chairman Mario J. Civera Jr. announced Wednesday, Aug. 26, that Gov. Tom Wolf had issued a Proclamation of Disaster Emergency Aug. 24 that enables the county and its municipalities to apply for reimbursement that would cover up to 50 percent of their eligible costs for cleanup, rental equipment and the hiring of crews to address the damages.

“This is good news for the county and the municipalities,” Civera said in a press release. “This means that municipalities could see a check as early as Christmas.”

Civera received the news from State Rep. Jamie Santora, and then he participated in a conference call with the state and other impacted counties. He relayed all of the information at the public County Council meeting.

Civera said the June 23 thunderstorm that packed record-breaking winds caused both immediate and long term consequences for the county, particularly Upland Park, and several municipalities including Concord Township.

“As soon as we saw the impact of that storm, we set up our Emergency Operations Center, we had representatives from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency on site, and I personally called the governor to ask for assistance,” Civera said.

“Our staff at the Department of Emergency Services has been working with the municipalities since the storm to assess the damage and expenses, and to handle the paperwork necessary for PEMA,” he said. The deadline to submit paperwork to PEMA for assistance is Oct. 23.

It is estimated that the county and the impacted municipalities incurred $2.6 million in damages and expenses to remove trees, restore power, clear the streams from debris to prevent flooding, and repair damaged buildings.

Immediately after the storm hit, council made a Declaration of Disaster Emergency and submitted it to PEMA. Council met with various officials at the Emergency Operations Center in Middletown and continued to coordinate efforts in the aftermath of the storm.

The governor’s Proclamation of Disaster Emergency is for the time period of June 23-30. It reads in part:

“Whereas, these impacts were both immediate and long term, and require a comprehensive partnership between the Commonwealth and its political subdivision for effective recovery…I hereby direct the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to continue to coordinate the response, recovery and mitigation activities to deal with the exigencies of this disaster emergency.”

The fast-moving summer storm did extensive damage with straight line winds, 75-mph gusts and torrential rain. Motorists were frustrated by inoperable traffic lights and closed roadways. At the height of the storm, more than 100,000 customers were without electricity, and downed trees and power lines made many roads impassable.

During the storm, County Council and the Department of Emergency Services conveyed the Declaration of Disaster to all 49 municipalities and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.