The Lehigh County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the disbursal of predisaster mitigation grant money at its March 27 meeting.

The Whitehall Township Authority will recieve the biggest chunk, or $89,179, for generator acquisition and installation projects.

Other municipalities receiving grant money include Lower Macungie Township, Macungie and Fountain Hill boroughs and Allentown. The Neffs Volunteer Fire Company will also receive money for generator acquisition and installation projects.

Lower Milford Township will receive $70,139 for stabilization of the Lower Milford Creek.

All grant money comes from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency as a way to help prepare municipalities for future disasters like Hurricane Sandy.

"This was gathered using tax money from all over Pennsylvania, not just the county," Commissioner Scott Ott said.

Neffs Fire Chief Jim Steward also spoke in support of the bill.

"PEMA grants are very hard to get," Steward said. "We sat in the dark for seven days because of Sandy. Sitting in a dark firehouse is not a desirable scene."