Pennsylvania Flood Aid: Grants Open Aug. 24

Updated: August 23, 2026

Pennsylvania flood aid is expanding for households affected by the July 28 flash flooding in Clearfield County. Pennsylvania will open its Disaster Recovery Assistance Program, or DRAP, application portal on August 24, while separate U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans are already available. Eligible DRAP households may receive grants of up to $20,000, and qualifying homeowners may seek SBA loans of up to $500,000 to repair or replace a primary residence. Neither amount is guaranteed.

What Changed With Pennsylvania Flood Aid

On August 21, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency announced that the SBA had approved the governor’s request for disaster lending tied to the July 28 flash flooding. The state also said it would activate DRAP on August 24.

The two programs are different. DRAP is state grant assistance intended for households with unmet disaster losses. SBA assistance is federal lending that must be repaid. The state’s August 21 Clearfield flood assistance announcement contains the event-specific dates, locations and dollar limits.

Who Can Apply for the DRAP Grants

The new DRAP activation is limited to people affected by the July 28 flooding who live in eight Clearfield County municipalities: Beccaria Township, Burnside Township, Chest Township, Coalport Borough, Gulich Township, Irvona Borough, Westover Borough and Woodward Township.

PEMA describes DRAP as income-based assistance for homeowners and renters who are uninsured or underinsured and still have qualifying losses not covered by another source. The state’s current DRAP eligibility and application page says households below 500% of the federal poverty guidelines may be eligible.

There is another important rule. Applicants who do not receive income-based government benefits generally must first apply for an SBA loan and be denied before receiving DRAP assistance. PEMA lists SNAP, Medicaid and TANF as examples of benefits that can exempt a household from that SBA-denial requirement.

DRAP Grant vs. SBA Loan: Do Not Confuse the Two

The $500,000 figure is not a grant and is not an automatic award. SBA sets eligibility, loan amounts and repayment terms case by case. The agency can offer terms of up to 30 years, according to PEMA’s announcement. Applicants can review the federal program through the SBA disaster recovery portal.

Which Counties Are Covered by the SBA Loans

The SBA declaration is broader than the DRAP grant area. Homeowners, renters and qualifying organizations affected by the July 28 flooding may seek SBA disaster assistance in Clearfield County and the surrounding counties of Blair, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Indiana and Jefferson.

For physical property damage, applications are due October 19, 2026. The deadline for eligible economic-injury applications is May 19, 2027. Applicants should reference Pennsylvania Disaster Number PA-20040 when contacting SBA about this event.

A Note About the $20,000 DRAP Figure

PEMA’s August 21 event-specific announcement says eligible households may receive DRAP grants of up to $20,000. The current DRAP webpage also lists up to $20,000 for home repairs. However, an FAQ lower on that same state page still says the program provides up to $10,000 for covered losses.

Because the official page is internally inconsistent, Fiscal Wire News is relying on the newer August 21 activation notice for this story. Applicants should confirm the applicable category and award limit with PEMA before committing to repair costs.

What Households Should Do Before Applying

1. Confirm the disaster and location. DRAP eligibility for this activation is limited to the listed Clearfield County municipalities.
2. Document the damage. Keep photos, receipts, insurance records, proof of residency and income records.
3. Check the SBA-first rule. If your household does not receive qualifying income-based benefits, you may need an SBA denial before DRAP assistance can be approved.
4. Keep separate deadlines. DRAP applications are due November 22; SBA physical-damage applications are due October 19.
5. Save confirmation numbers and copies. Do not rely only on phone conversations when tracking an application.

PEMA says a Disaster Loan Outreach Center will open August 24 at 9 a.m. at the Glendale Volunteer Fire Department, 946 Water St., Coalport, Pennsylvania. Visiting the center is not required to seek SBA assistance.

Bottom Line

The new Pennsylvania flood aid development is the August 24 opening of DRAP grant applications for qualifying Clearfield County households. SBA disaster loans tied to the same July 28 flood are already available across a wider nine-county area. The safest approach is to identify which program applies, document uncovered losses and follow the separate state and federal deadlines.

Editorial disclaimer: Fiscal Wire News provides news and general consumer information, not legal or financial advice. Grant and loan eligibility, award amounts and lending terms are determined by the responsible government agencies.

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