Financial Assistance Now Available for Philadelphia Residents and Businesses Impacted by July 11 Severe Storm Damage. City departments continue working to help the recovery effort in communities

PHILADELPHIA- The City of Philadelphia is providing updates to its continued response and coordination of assistance as residents and businesses recover from severe storms that abruptly and quickly moved through several Philadelphia neighborhoods on July 11, 2026.

Two financial aid programs were granted after City departments, along with state and federal partners, surveyed damage in neighborhoods and reviewed information presented to them by the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management (OEM) through public reports and City damage assessments.

The Shapiro Administration announced today that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved the Governor’s request to make financial aid available to eligible residents and businesses who experienced damage, through a low-interest loan.

Additionally, the State has activated the Commonwealth Disaster Recovery Assistance Program (DRAP) grant for eligible residents through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA).

The City’s Continued Response

According to the National Weather Service, Philadelphia was impacted by a series of severe microburst storms in the Philadelphia area that brought heavy rain and destructive straight-line wind gusts up to 70 m.p.h. across parts of West and South Philadelphia.

The city experienced flash flooding and hundreds of trees down along with damage to residents’ property and city infrastructure. City departments responded immediately to assure public safety, assess damage, and clear downed trees.

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker signed a Declaration of Disaster Emergency on July 11 to allow the City to accelerate and reinforce ongoing recovery efforts including expediting contracts with private vendors, such as tree contractors, to supplement City crews. The declaration, which reflected the immediate impact and extent of the storm, allowed the City to advocate and pursue additional assistance for residents in receiving essential public services and accessing public assistance for which they may be eligible.

“The abrupt and severe storms that occurred on July 11 quickly impacted residents and businesses lives in the City of Philadelphia,” said Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “Our City departments remain working to hear see and hear from those who experienced storm damage to understand what needs they may have as they recover from their losses and begin to put their homes, lives and businesses back together. We are grateful for the strong intergovernmental partnership that is bringing additional support to those impacted. I thank Governor Shapiro and his administration for moving quickly to help our communities recover and become whole again.”

Along with immediate response to emergencies caused by the storm, OEM launched its Damage Reporter application and began in-person surveys in affected neighborhoods to assess the overall impact of the storm.

  • OEM conducted 190 preliminary assessments with partner agencies including the Departments of Licenses & Inspections, Parks & Recreation, Sanitation, Streets, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), and the American Red Cross.
  • The Office of Emergency Management also reviewed more than 1,000 damage reports submitted by residents through the Damage Reporter.
  • Within days of the storm, this information was shared with PEMA to determine whether any state and/or federal disaster assistance would be available to support Philadelphia’s recovery efforts.

In addition to assessing damage, OEM operated Multi-Agency Resource Centers over a period of three days, July 18-20, 2026, with over 25 partner agencies from the City, State, and non-profit organizations to increase speed and accessibility to support services for residents and businesses seeking recovery services. Nearly 450 people visited the resource centers in locations in West Philadelphia, South Philadelphia, and the Wynnefield sections of the city.

Philadelphia Parks and Recreation (PPR), working with the Department of Streets, responded to more than 500 tree emergencies. In just under three weeks following the storm, Parks and Recreation reports the Organic Recycling Center received approximately half of its typical yearly volume, accepting more than 2,500 tons of organic material. PPR continues removal of debris like broken tree limbs from park areas. For residents’ awareness, beginning on Monday August 3, City staff with support of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society will be at locations where street trees fell during the storm to take photographs for documentation purposes.

Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) cleaning crews, who cleared litter from more than three-dozen inlets in flood prone areas across the city before the storm hit, repaired damaged sewer drains, removed floodwater from affected roadways, and supported clean-up efforts by clearing downed trees from access trails in its aftermath.

The Department of Commerce’s Vending Opportunities Expansion Grant awarded $36,650 to the Vendors Association of FDR Park to replace equipment that was damaged during the storm.  That aid, along with significant clean-up work done by PPR in FDR Park, enabled the markets to open on the following weekend as scheduled.

Philadelphia’s non-emergency contact agency, Philly311, operated under 24-hour activation from July 12 to July 22 to support individuals affected by the storm during which it received over 5,000 storm related service requests and questions. Information provided to 311 helped inform the City’s response and understanding of the scope of damage.

Tree and Debris Removal

The City does not inspect trees that are on private property. If a tree is in a backyard, front yard, or alley, it is the property owner’s responsibility to maintain it.

OEM has worked with partners from the Pennsylvania Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (PA VOAD) to assist residents who needed help cleaning up debris or downed trees from their property. PA VOAD has connected with residents through residential requests for assistance made to the American Red Cross, at the Multi-Resource Assistance Center, 211, Philly 311, or OEM’s Damage Reporter.

If there is tree debris remaining from initial clean-up efforts, please contact 311 to report it for the City to clean up.

City Resources

Residents and businesses in need of continued help can visit a Neighborhood Community Action Center for service.

Philly311 also remains available to assist residents with questions, City resources, and non-emergency service requests about recovery efforts. Residents can contact Philly311 by calling 3-1-1 from Monday through Friday, 8AM to 8 PM. Philly311’s web portal and mobile app are available anytime to submit a service request.

Financial Assistance

Following the damage assessments and advocacy, there are now four financial assistance programs available for recovery from City, state, and federal partners.

The SBA’s Disaster Loan program provides low-interest loans for all homeowners, renters, private non-profits, and businesses located in disaster declared counties who sustained damages from the storm.

Additionally, small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations located in the declared disaster area that have suffered substantial economic injury may be eligible for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).

PEMA has activated the Disaster Recovery Assistance Program that provides grants for eligible residents to assist with home repairs, temporary housing or rental expenses, and to replace certain personal items.

Also, businesses may be eligible for the City-funded Emergency Grant Program that provides grants of up to $20,000 to eligible Philadelphia small businesses experiencing an unexpected emergency or disaster, including flood-related damage. Contact the Mayor’s Business Action Team in the Department of Commerce at (215) 683-2100 or by email at  business@phila.gov.

The SBA will open a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Philadelphia, in partnership with the City’s Neighborhood Community Action Centers, with representation from PEMA beginning Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. to provide in-person assistance for those wishing to apply. Visiting the DLOC is not required to obtain assistance.

Location:
Dixon House
1920 S 20th St.,
Philadelphia, PA 19145

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Saturday from 10:00 a.m until 2:00 p.m.
Sunday the DLOC is closed

The Dixon House DLOC will permanently close Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. A second DLOC will open. Dates and hours of operation will be announced at a future time and will be announced on OEM’s X and Facebook page.

Read PEMA’s press release to learn about SBA and DRAP financial aid details, who is eligible, and what is or is not covered here.

Read the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Declaration here.

Find more information on the City’s response, assistance, and resources in OEM’s blog here.

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