As a result of the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Lee, President Obama declared a disaster Monday evening for 19 Pennsylvania counties, making federal aid available to flood victims in those counties, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

The counties included in the declaration are: Adams, Bradford, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Union, Wyoming and York.

Assistance includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured or underinsured property losses and other programs to help residents and business owners recover from the devastating storm.  Assistance earmarked specifically for non-profit child care facilities is described in the FEMA Disaster Assistance Fact Sheet 9580.107, Public Assistance for Child Care Services.

Damage surveys are being done in other areas and additional counties might get assistance after the assessments are done, said Thomas J. McCool, the federal coordinating officer for recovery operations.

Those who sustained losses in the designated counties can apply for assistance by registering online at the Disaster Assistance website, by web-enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA.  Applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY can call 800-462-7585. For those who use video relay service, call 800-621-3362. Per FEMA, the numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

Also, child care facilities are reminded to call their regional office to report if they need to temporarily close or relocate so that Certification staff can provide technical assistance.  Regional offices can be contacted as follows:

Counties:  Adams, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Union, York
Regional offices:  North Central / Harrisburg, North Central / Selinsgrove 
Phone Numbers:  717-772-7078 or 1-800-222-2117 (North Central / Harrisburg), 570-374-2675 (North Central / Selinsgrove)

Counties:  Bradford, Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, Wyoming 
Regional Offices:  North Central / Scranton 
Phone Numbers:  570-963-4371 or 1-800-222-2108

Counties:  Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia 
Regional Office:  Southeast 
Phone Numbers:  215-560-2541 or 1-800-346-2929

Counties:  Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington, Westmoreland 
Regional Office:  West 
Phone Numbers:  412-565-5183 or 1-800-222-2149