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Motion expressing the Sense of Council of Allegheny County, requesting that all of the State of Pennsylvania's elected officials, and all of the elected officials of Allegheny County, explore all financial grants and no-interest loan possibilities that could help aid the residents and businesses of Allegheny County who were harmed by the flooding caused by Hurricane Ivan.
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WHEREAS, on September 17 and 18, 2004, the storms and rain of the remnants of Hurricane Ivan caused widespread flooding in Allegheny County, causing the destruction of housing and businesses throughout Allegheny County; and
WHEREAS, the business districts of some of these communities have been ravaged by floodwaters; and
WHEREAS, the residents and business owners of many of Allegheny County communities that were devastated by the flooding of Hurricane Ivan were not protected by flood insurance because they did not reside in a designated “flood plain,” and business and homeowners insurance does not cover the losses that they experienced; and
WHEREAS, the grants and loans provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may not be, in and of itself, sufficient to provide the aid to these businesses and residents to return to their homes and businesses; and
WHEREAS, due to the flooding from Hurricane Ivan, there is an immediate need to provide financial aid and support to the residents and business owners of the Allegheny County communities that were devastated by the flooding of Hurricane Ivan; and
WHEREAS, all possible grant opportunities should be directed to Allegheny County's victims of Hurricane Ivan by the Governor of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Senate, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and the Chief Executive of Allegheny County; and
WHEREAS, any redirected grant money for projects, which needs are not immediate, can be used to provide no-interest loans to many of the communities of Allegheny County which were affected by the flooding of Hurricane Ivan; and
WHEREAS, moreover, since any such loan will be no-interest, and not a grant, the money will be repaid, and then the original purpose of the grant can be fulfilled.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS MOVED, AND IT IS THE SENSE OF THE COUNCIL OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, that the Governor of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania's State Senate and House of Representatives, and the Chief Executive of Allegheny County, should review all existing grants that could possibly be redirected as no-interest loans and explore all other grant opportunities that could help aid the victims of Allegheny County who were harmed by the flooding of Hurricane Ivan.