PIKE & WAYNE COUNTIES — The Pennsylvania Department of Welfare (DPW) has informed victims of Hurricane Sandy that disaster agencies are not offering assistance in replacing food lost as a result of the recent power outages.

“Neither the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or DPW or the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) is issuing money to replace food lost due to power outages,” said Christine Obser, director of Pike County Department of Human Services.

Obser said there is one exception: DPW is replacing food lost during power outages if the household was already participating in the food stamp program before the storm.

In another announcement, Governor Tom Corbett said that Pennsylvania homeowners will not have to pay hurricane deductibles on insurance claims stemming from damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.

“Insurance deductibles could have added significant costs to Pennsylvania already struggling to clean up and rebuild after Hurricane Sandy,” Corbett said. “Insurance companies have deployed catastrophe teams to residents and they have been advising that hurricane deductibles should not be applied to any homeowner’s insurance claims.”