2 pm UPDATE (7/30): Disaster Assistance Sought

Fewer than 100 Potter County households are still without electrical service as utility crews continue to respond to last Thursday afternoon’s violent weather — which included a tornado, straight-line winds and microbursts. Potter County Department of Emergency Services (DES) continues to monitor local conditions and officials will confer in the coming days to determine lessons that have been learned as a result of the disaster and what changes can be made to improve notifications and response. Three Potter County municipalities — Coudersport Borough, Roulette Township and Genesee Township — continue to operate under a state of emergency, but shelters have closed and emergency operations are winding down.

Attention now turns to damage assessments. DES has been conferring with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to determine what, if any, assistance is available for disaster victims. Some businesses and individuals have reported losses of property and inventory, as well as commerce, as a result of electrical service outages. Any UNINSURED business that has loss or damage — and may meet SBA criteria for assistance — should immediately contact the local township or borough to file a report. Criteria is any business with a 40-percent uninsured loss (including land and improvements, contents or structure) or businesses that affect 25 percent or more of a community. More information is available from the township or borough office, or from DES at 814-274-8900.