Disaster Emergency Declared In Montgomery County: Gov. Wolf

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — Gov. Wolf added Montgomery County to his weekend disaster emergency declaration on Monday evening as the county responds to escalating protests and violence.

The declaration gives the state and its agencies emergency power to help Montgomery County and other places hit by violent offshoots of once peaceful protests following the death of George Floyd. The declaration also provides $2 million additional funds to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Assistance (PEMA) Compact to address the situation, and up to $4 million more can be transferred as conditions require.

While the original declaration on May 30 only covered Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Dauphin counties, Monday's amendment adds Montgomery, Delaware, and Erie.

“People have every right to speak out and demonstrate, but it’s unacceptable to take advantage of protests to incite violence, harm others and destroy property,” Gov. Wolf said in a statement Monday evening.

The declaration puts the law enforcement response to any rioting in the hands of PEMA, which will direct emergency operations in all six counties listed.

The Pennsylvania National Guard was activated on Sunday, with more than 600 National Guardsmen deployed to reinforce police. They could be deployed to assist in Montgomery County as well.

>>12 Arrested After Looters Hit King Of Prussia Mall

While looting and violent protesting have been most common in parts of Philadelphia, protests have also struck the King of Prussia Mall, where 200 police officers were sent over the weekend and 12 looters were arrested. There were also incidents at the Philadelphia Premium Outlets just off of 422, small stores in Lower Providence Township, and elsewhere in the county.

The full order signed by Gov. Wolf can be viewed here.