U.S. Sen. Bob Casey pressured Federal Emergency Management Assistance agency Tuesday to change its policy and help fund the repair costs of sinkholes that formed after severe weather hit Pennsylvania last year.
"Sinkholes have been an issue across Pennsylvania and have had a significant impact on residents and municipal budgets," Casey (D - Pa.) wrote, according to a report from Lancaster Online.
The federal agency has never before used grant money to fund sinkhole repairs, which can cost municipalities tens of thousands of dollars to fix.
Local precincts could potentially seek funds through FEMA's pre-disaster mitigation grant program, which funds projects that help lower the risk of future disasters, Lancaster Online reports.
FEMA officials, who are currently updating guidelines for the grant program, plan to respond to Casey's letter.
