Agents from the Federal Emergency Management Agency were in Westmoreland County this morning to start their assessment of damage at some of the 1,100 homes affected by last week's storms.

The agents will be traveling to the "hardest hit areas" of the county, including Jeannette, North Huntingdon and Penn, Westmoreland County Public Safety spokesman Dan Stevens said. The agents will record the damages they see and report their findings to Gov. Ed Rendell and the federal government, Mr. Stevens added.

Using the FEMA report, President Barack Obama will then decide whether to authorize a federal major disaster declaration and provide federal aid to affected homes.

Two days ago, Gov. Rendell requested FEMA to come to Pennsylvania to observe storm damage. FEMA agents will be in Westmoreland today and tomorrow, Mr. Stevens said.