Obama Signs Pennsylvania Disaster Declaration After Irene

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in Pennsylvania in the wake of Hurricane Irene.

Obama on Saturday ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts after the heavy winds, rain and flooding from Aug. 26 to Aug. 30.

The federal funding will be available to state and local governments and some nonprofits for emergency work and repair in five Pennsylvania counties. They include Chester, Northampton, Sullivan, Susquehanna, and Wyoming.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says more counties could receive assistance after additional assessments are made.

Gov. Tom Corbett had requested federal disaster aid for the state, citing more than $32 million in damage in four northeastern counties and as-yet untotaled losses in at least nine others.

The storm killed five people in Pennsylvania.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)