If your household was affected by one of four specific Pennsylvania disasters this summer, you may still have time to apply for state disaster assistance.
Pennsylvania’s Disaster Recovery Assistance Program, known as DRAP, currently has four application windows open, and the first deadline is coming up fast. The program can help eligible households with costs such as home repairs, temporary housing, rental expenses, and essential personal property.
What Is Pennsylvania’s DRAP?
The Commonwealth Disaster Recovery Assistance Program is a state grant program administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA).
DRAP is activated for specific disasters when households have recovery needs that aren’t otherwise covered by insurance or other assistance. These are grants, not loans.
The program isn’t a general year-round disaster fund available after every Pennsylvania storm, flood, or fire. PEMA activates it for specific events and geographic areas, so your address and the disaster that caused your damage both matter.
Four DRAP Application Windows Are Open
As of September 2026, PEMA lists four active DRAP application periods.
Oak Forest Apartment Fire — Deadline September 27, 2026
This activation is for residents of the Oak Forest Apartment Complex in Muhlenberg Township, Berks County, who were affected by the June 11, 2026 fire.
The DRAP application period opened June 29 and closes September 27, 2026.
Blair and Huntingdon Counties Flooding — Deadline October 21, 2026
This activation covers residents of specific municipalities in Blair and Huntingdon Counties affected by the July 5–6, 2026 flash flooding.
Eligible areas include:
- Altoona City
- Antis Township
- Logan Township
- Snyder Township
- Tyrone Borough
- Warriors Mark Township
Applications opened July 23 and must be submitted by October 21, 2026.
Philadelphia Severe Storms — Deadline November 2, 2026
This activation covers residents of qualifying areas of Philadelphia affected by the July 11, 2026 severe storms and flash flooding.
To qualify, storm damage must meet PEMA’s requirements, including having been reported to the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management and verified by an appropriate entity.
The DRAP application period opened August 4 and closes November 2, 2026.
Clearfield County Flooding — Deadline November 22, 2026
This activation covers residents of certain Clearfield County municipalities affected by the July 28, 2026 flash flooding.
Applications opened August 24 and must be submitted by November 22, 2026.
Because DRAP eligibility can be limited to specific municipalities, ZIP codes, apartment complexes, or other geographic areas, don’t assume you qualify simply because you live in one of the counties mentioned above. Check your exact location on PEMA’s current disaster assistance page.
How Much Can DRAP Provide?
PEMA’s current DRAP information says assistance may cover:
- Home repairs: up to $20,000 for eligible repairs needed to restore a home to livable conditions
- Temporary housing and rental expenses: up to $7,500
- Essential personal property: up to $7,500 for eligible items such as clothing, furniture, mattresses, bed frames, kitchen items, and certain appliances
Award limits and eligible expenses can depend on the particular disaster activation and the household’s documented losses. For example, PEMA’s original Oak Forest activation announced up to $15,000 for eligible temporary housing, rental expenses, or essential personal property.
Because PEMA has published different limits in some DRAP materials, applicants should confirm the amount available under their specific disaster activation rather than assuming every household can receive the same maximum.
Who Qualifies for DRAP?
DRAP is designed for eligible households with disaster-related needs that haven’t been covered through other sources.
PEMA says applicants generally must:
- Live in an eligible municipality or area where DRAP has been activated
- Meet the program’s income requirements
- Have disaster-related losses that aren’t otherwise covered by insurance or another government, nonprofit, or private source
- Have first applied for and been denied an SBA disaster loan, unless they receive income-based government benefits such as SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF
Your damaged property must also be your primary residence.
DRAP Income Limits
DRAP is income-based. PEMA currently uses limits equal to 500% of the applicable federal poverty guidelines.
| Household Size | Maximum Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $78,250 |
| 2 | $105,750 |
| 3 | $133,250 |
| 4 | $160,750 |
| 5 | $180,250 |
| 6 | $215,750 |
| 7 | $243,250 |
| 8 | $270,750 |
| Each additional person | Add $27,500 |
Because eligibility rules can change, check PEMA’s current income table when you apply rather than relying on older DRAP information.
What to Gather Before You Apply
Having your documents ready can make the application process easier. Depending on the assistance you’re requesting, PEMA may ask for:
- Proof of residency
- Proof of household income
- Photos showing the claimed damage
- Receipts for expenses you’re asking to have reimbursed
- Two quotes for remediation or repair work
- Homeowners or renters insurance declaration information
- Vehicle insurance information if you’re requesting assistance for an eligible damaged vehicle
- Proof of SBA loan denial, when required
- Banking or payment information requested by the program
The exact documents you need will depend on your situation and the type of assistance you’re requesting.
How to Apply for DRAP
You can start through PEMA’s Post-Disaster Assistance page.
For an online application:
- Create a Keystone Login if you don’t already have one.
- Go to Pennsylvania’s Single Application for Assistance.
- Start a new application and search for DRAP under Program Name.
- Select the specific disaster that affected you.
- Confirm that your damaged property is in an eligible area, is your primary residence, and that you meet the income requirements.
- Enter your personal and damaged-property information.
- Complete the required application addenda and upload your supporting documents.
- Submit everything before the deadline for your specific disaster.
If you’re having trouble with the DRAP program itself, PEMA lists padrap@pa.gov as its contact email.
For technical problems with the online application, contact egrantshelp@pa.gov.
A Few Important Things to Remember
The November 22 deadline does not apply to everyone. That’s only the deadline for the Clearfield County activation. Oak Forest closes September 27, Blair and Huntingdon close October 21, and Philadelphia closes November 2.
Having insurance doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t qualify. DRAP is intended to address eligible losses that remain uncovered after insurance and other assistance.
The SBA requirement also has an important exception. You generally need to have been denied an SBA disaster loan first, but PEMA says this requirement doesn’t apply if you receive income-based government benefits such as SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF.
Finally, DRAP can change as disasters occur and new activations open or close. Always check PEMA’s current page for your specific disaster before applying.
Relief Recap
Pennsylvania currently has four DRAP application windows open for households affected by specific fires, storms, and flooding in 2026.
The first deadline is September 27 for the Oak Forest Apartment Fire, followed by October 21 for Blair and Huntingdon flooding, November 2 for Philadelphia storms, and November 22 for Clearfield County flooding.
Eligibility depends on more than living in the right county. Your exact location, income, disaster-related losses, insurance and other assistance can all matter, and many applicants must first be denied an SBA disaster loan unless they qualify for PEMA’s public-benefits exception.
If DRAP doesn’t fit your situation or you need additional support while recovering, our Find Help Near Me directory can help you look for other local resources.
