PA Fire Commissioner

Shapiro Administration Delivers $38.4M Hurricane Debby Aid to Pennsylvania Counties

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency announced that over $38.4 million in federal disaster aid has been delivered to Pennsylvania counties affected by Hurricane Debby in August 2024. The funding includes $7.7 million in FEMA Individual Assistance grants to homeowners and renters and $28.6 million in FEMA Public Assistance to state, county, and local governments and eligible nonprofits. Governor Josh Shapiro signed a proclamation of disaster emergency to enable rapid state agency response to the storm.

Shapiro Administration Celebrates NG911 Investments and National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

The Shapiro Administration and PEMA celebrated National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 12–18, 2026) and highlighted life-saving investments in Next Generation 911 (NG911) technology. In 2025, Governor Shapiro signed legislation extending funding for Pennsylvania's 911 program through early 2029. The initial phase of the NG911 project was completed in April 2025, connecting all 61 Pennsylvania Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) to the system, supporting regional interoperability and ensuring consistent emergency services across county boundaries.

Shapiro Administration Proposes $5 Million for Fourth Year of Disaster Recovery Assistance Program

The Shapiro Administration has proposed $5 million in its 2026-27 budget to continue the Commonwealth Disaster Recovery Assistance Program (DRAP) for a fourth consecutive year. Since its 2023 inception, DRAP has provided over $500,000 in grants directly to eligible Pennsylvanians and municipalities impacted by disasters including flooding, fires, and other emergencies. The program was expanded in 2025-26 to include municipal public infrastructure projects such as debris removal and emergency protective measures.