BY THOMAS LESKIN (STAFF WRITERTLESKIN@REPUBLICANHERALD.COM)Published: February 20, 2013
A recent proactive effort with the creation of a part-time recovery plan coordinator position plans to reduce the impact of future flooding in Schuylkill County.
William E. Reichert, president of Schuylkill Headwaters Association, recently accepted the new part-time position of manager of the Pine Grove Area/Upper Swatara Long-Term Recovery Strategy.
State Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, helped coordinate the efforts of the Schuylkill Economic Development Corp., Schuylkill County Industrial Development Authority, Schuylkill County commissioners and the Schuylkill Conservation District, which created the position now responsible for managing projects that affect the entire Pine Grove/Upper Swatara watershed area.
The effort was based on an idea from a Federal Emergency Management Agency report.
"Basically, I'm taking the work that had been done by the folks when FEMA was here for Tropical Storm Lee to try to ensure that all of that effort and time and energy continues to move forward," Reichert said Tuesday. "You can spend a lot of time and effort to make a plan then put it on a bookshelf and nothing happens."
http://republicanherald.com/news/part-time-recovery-position-created-to-address-flooding-1.1447218
Showing posts with label PA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PA. Show all posts
Saturday, March 2, 2013
West Pittston Tomorrow - new website for recovery
http://www.wptomorrow.com/
NON PROFIT ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Articles of Incorporation for West Pittston Tomorrow, a Pennsylvania Nonprofit Corporation, have been filed and approved by the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on November 13, 2012, pursuant to the revisions of the Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1988, as amended supplemented. The purpose for which it is organized is to provide a non-partisan, non-sectarian and non-commercial organization to initiate, encourage, assist, and sponsor activities within the Borough of West Pittston for the benefit, betterment, advancement, and general civic improvement of the community.
The first meeting of the corporation will be held on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 7 p.m. at the West Pittston Borough Building for the purpose of adopting by-laws and election of officers and board of directors. Details can be found at www.wptomorrow.com.
NON PROFIT ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Articles of Incorporation for West Pittston Tomorrow, a Pennsylvania Nonprofit Corporation, have been filed and approved by the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on November 13, 2012, pursuant to the revisions of the Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1988, as amended supplemented. The purpose for which it is organized is to provide a non-partisan, non-sectarian and non-commercial organization to initiate, encourage, assist, and sponsor activities within the Borough of West Pittston for the benefit, betterment, advancement, and general civic improvement of the community.
The first meeting of the corporation will be held on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 7 p.m. at the West Pittston Borough Building for the purpose of adopting by-laws and election of officers and board of directors. Details can be found at www.wptomorrow.com.
West Pittston receives $120K flood recovery grant
WEST PITTSTON - Luzerne County has awarded the borough a grant for $120,000 for flood recovery repair in low income areas.
Council cannot make official plans yet until the county actually disburses the money, but they plan to use the money toward paving and curb repairs on Fremont Street, Jenkins Street and part of Luzerne Avenue.
The borough is still waiting on Federal Emergency Management Agency funds to be distributed by the county. While the county received the money, they are still searching for a projects coordinator to oversee distribution and use of that money.
Borough Engineer Tom Reilly selected areas in need, where streets were under water and flood damage was significant.
Jim Brozena, former executive director of the Flood Protection Authority, has applied and submitted a proposal to handle the buying of flood-damaged properties and demolition of structures on these properties.
After retiring from his former position, Brozena started his own business and has been reaching out to municipalities to handle the buyout process.
The borough is looking to work with him; however, council will vote on whether to accept Brozena's proposal and hire him at Tuesday's council meeting. If the borough hires Brozena, he will be paid with federal money.
No parking on Exeter, Wyoming avenues
Currently, the state mandates no parking on Exeter and Wyoming Avenue; however, the borough needs to purchase and place no parking signs before notifying the public. The borough will not enforce the state mandate until the signs are in place.
The West Pittston Street Department is responsible for completing this project.
Library grant: All or nothing
The Pennsylvania Department of Education awarded the borough and West Pittston Library a $500,000 Keystone Recreation, Parks and Conservation fund grant for development over an 18-month period as it recovers from the flood damage sustained in September 2011.
The grant is contingent upon the library matching the awarded amount. If the library is unable to match the amount, the grant is declined. Library officials are confident they can raise the money needed.
More...
http://citizensvoice.com/news/west-pittston-receives-120k-flood-recovery-grant-1.1451109
Council cannot make official plans yet until the county actually disburses the money, but they plan to use the money toward paving and curb repairs on Fremont Street, Jenkins Street and part of Luzerne Avenue.
The borough is still waiting on Federal Emergency Management Agency funds to be distributed by the county. While the county received the money, they are still searching for a projects coordinator to oversee distribution and use of that money.
Borough Engineer Tom Reilly selected areas in need, where streets were under water and flood damage was significant.
Jim Brozena, former executive director of the Flood Protection Authority, has applied and submitted a proposal to handle the buying of flood-damaged properties and demolition of structures on these properties.
After retiring from his former position, Brozena started his own business and has been reaching out to municipalities to handle the buyout process.
The borough is looking to work with him; however, council will vote on whether to accept Brozena's proposal and hire him at Tuesday's council meeting. If the borough hires Brozena, he will be paid with federal money.
No parking on Exeter, Wyoming avenues
Currently, the state mandates no parking on Exeter and Wyoming Avenue; however, the borough needs to purchase and place no parking signs before notifying the public. The borough will not enforce the state mandate until the signs are in place.
The West Pittston Street Department is responsible for completing this project.
Library grant: All or nothing
The Pennsylvania Department of Education awarded the borough and West Pittston Library a $500,000 Keystone Recreation, Parks and Conservation fund grant for development over an 18-month period as it recovers from the flood damage sustained in September 2011.
The grant is contingent upon the library matching the awarded amount. If the library is unable to match the amount, the grant is declined. Library officials are confident they can raise the money needed.
More...
http://citizensvoice.com/news/west-pittston-receives-120k-flood-recovery-grant-1.1451109
Friday, January 20, 2012
Residents think of ways to revitalize Athens Borough
Morning-times.com 12-13-11
Several residents talk to a FEMA official during Monday’s meeting at Athens High School. Pat McDonald/Morning TimesATHENS BOROUGH – Athens Borough residents Monday brainstormed on ways to bring the borough back after the recent flooding.
Several Athens Borough business owners attended Monday’s meeting. Pat McDonald/Morning Times“Together we can shape what will happen,” said Maslin. She said the borough now has the opportunity to come back even stronger.
Residents think of ways to revitalize Athens Borough
Several residents talk to a FEMA official during Monday’s meeting at Athens High School. Pat McDonald/Morning TimesATHENS BOROUGH – Athens Borough residents Monday brainstormed on ways to bring the borough back after the recent flooding.A community meeting was held in the Athens Area High School cafeteria on long-term community recovery with local and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials.
Athens Borough Emergency Management Coordinator, and co-chair of the Athens Recovery Steering Committee Scott Riley headed the meeting alongside co-chair Yvonne Maslin. Riley and Maslin created the committee with the help of FEMA, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency officials and Bradford County Emergency Management Agency representatives.
“Hopefully, this will help move the borough forward,” said Riley.
“It will take all of us to put all of the pieces of Athens back together,” Maslin said to residents, adding that Athens is not the same after the recent flooding and will not be again.
Several Athens Borough business owners attended Monday’s meeting. Pat McDonald/Morning Times“Together we can shape what will happen,” said Maslin. She said the borough now has the opportunity to come back even stronger.Before creating a new community, Maslin said residents have to decide what they liked about the borough before the recent flooding and how they would like to be after it is revitalized.
Long-Term Recovery
John Boyle of FEMA, who is specifically working on long-term community recovery, said the Athens Borough Steering Committee and its FEMA consultants have also been speaking with agencies such as the Northern Tier Regional Planning and Development Committee and the Central Bradford Progress Authority on ways to find funding for the borough once reconstruction plans are devised.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Residents get chance to plan redevelopment
Posted: November 27, Timesleader.com
Residents get chance to plan redevelopment
SHICKSHINNY – Borough residents might be wondering just who those people in polo shirts wandering through their community are and why they’re passing out fliers.
Caption: Shickshinny Mayor Beverly Moore addresses the town’s Long Term Community Recovery Steering Committee in the basement of First United Methodist Church during its first meeting.
Residents get chance to plan redevelopment
SHICKSHINNY – Borough residents might be wondering just who those people in polo shirts wandering through their community are and why they’re passing out fliers.
They are the members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Long Term Community Recovery Team, and they’re here to help the town make a comeback, said team leader Shea Christilaw.
The LTCR team, comprised of municipal planners, is spending the next three months in the borough to help the community shape a new direction as residents and businesses work to recover from Sept. 9 flooding that ravaged nearly all of the town’s homes and all but one of its 28 businesses.
Shickshinny and Athens, Bradford County, are the only two Pennsylvania communities marked by FEMA to receive long-term recovery assistance following a five-point plan called Heart-and-Soul Community Planning.
“It’s finding out what makes Shickshinny special and using those things and places … to plan for the future,” Christilaw said.
“We don’t want to lose what gives Shickshinny its character. We want to make sure those special places are preserved and those values are carried through even in the face of change, because things are going to change,” she explained at a recent “story circle” meeting at First United Methodist Church.
Christilaw said the team will help create a long-term recovery plan.
Many voices
Many voices
The process should include everyone: council, business owners and residents. A committee of community members – residents, business owners, senior citizens, students – and a few Luzerne County representatives will help steer the process, she said.
The Rev. Terry Hughes, pastor of First United Methodist and a steering committee member, said the process is an opportunity “to paint the picture of Shickshinny the way you envision it.”
“One person says I think Shickshinny should look like this, another person says it should look like that. When you put all of them together, what are the things that are in common? These are the things that we need for Shickshinny for it to feel like home,” Hughes said.
Read more: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Residents_get_chance_to_plan_redevelopment_11-27-2011.html#ixzz1exBqTvHkCaption: Shickshinny Mayor Beverly Moore addresses the town’s Long Term Community Recovery Steering Committee in the basement of First United Methodist Church during its first meeting.
Shickshinny on the mend
Residents’ spirits high in flooded river town
The answers are a little different for everyone, but they follow a common theme – a strong thread that seems to weave through this river town community, reinforcing it to withstand a disaster that inflicted millions of dollars in damage to nearly all of the town’s 430 housing units and all but one of its 28 businesses and might otherwise have torn it apart.
Learning from history
Read more: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Shickshinny_on_the_mend_11-27-2011.html#ixzz1ex5BtDtr
SHICKSHINNY,PA – Why come back? How many times can you start over?
They’re reasonable questions to ask residents and business owners in a small town with limited resources that has been flooded out numerous times over the last 40 years, the most devastating event this past September.
They’re reasonable questions to ask residents and business owners in a small town with limited resources that has been flooded out numerous times over the last 40 years, the most devastating event this past September.
Clarence Lewis wants to live in a town made special by its sense of community.
“You can’t go to Philadelphia, you can’t go to Allentown, you can’t go to Wilkes-Barre as we know it and sit down in the coffee shop and talk to the baker or the people who own it and say, ‘We want a doughnut named Flood Mud.’ … And the next thing you know, everybody is coming in asking for those things. It’s the (sense of) family that’s coming out,” Lewis said.
Pizza shop owner Jim Houseknecht likes that the town is small and safe, yet busy enough to support his livelihood.
The answers are a little different for everyone, but they follow a common theme – a strong thread that seems to weave through this river town community, reinforcing it to withstand a disaster that inflicted millions of dollars in damage to nearly all of the town’s 430 housing units and all but one of its 28 businesses and might otherwise have torn it apart.
The mayor of the borough of 838 residents seems to have a good grasp on what makes the town special and worth saving as well as why so many of her constituents wish to remain and are determined to see it thrive once again.
“We could have a fire that devastates the town. We could have sinkholes open up. For the love of God, we had an earthquake. You have to deal with it. There is no absolute safe place. So why would you not be where you feel you’re the happiest?” Mayor Beverly Moore said in a recent interview.
“I love this town. Everybody here knows just about everybody else. You know the people in the stores. It’s a great little place. It’s like a little secret. Just the traffic alone here could support our businesses,” she said.
Learning from history
The recent flood? She labels it an inconvenience.
“We’ve been through flooding before. Did we have a good flood plan? Absolutely. Did this last flood screw it up for me? Yup.
“But we go out as soon as we hear from (the emergency management agency), everybody starts moving their stuff, we don’t have anything hysterical going on. They all know they have to move it. You know at that point the chances are you’re going to have to replace your flooring, some of your walls,” Moore said.
She said it wouldn’t be feasible to raise up every home and business eight feet so they’re out of the flood zone. “And at the same time, I don’t think my town should become a ghost town because of it.”
Moore said Shickshinny will prepare a flood plan based on the most recent flooding that likely will address an even higher crest than the record 42.6 feet the Susquehanna River reached on Sept. 9.
...
Read more: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Shickshinny_on_the_mend_11-27-2011.html#ixzz1ex5BtDtr
Friday, November 25, 2011
Borough will get long-term assistance
November 7th, By Matt Hughes mhughes@timesleader.com
Shickshinny, hard-hit by September flooding, picked for special FEMA program.
Shickshinny Borough is one of two communities in Pennsylvania marked by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to receive long-term assistance in recovering from the September flood.
According to FEMA, nearly all of Shickshinny’s 430 housing units and businesses are located in a flood plain and were flooded in September. Of the 28 businesses operating before the flood, two are currently open.
Borough Secretary Melissa Weber said the Borough Council planning committee met with FEMA officials last week and learned the borough had been selected for the program. FEMA officials will attend Wednesday’s council meeting to discuss help available to the borough through the program.
Shickshinny, hard-hit by September flooding, picked for special FEMA program.
Shickshinny Borough is one of two communities in Pennsylvania marked by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to receive long-term assistance in recovering from the September flood.
According to FEMA, nearly all of Shickshinny’s 430 housing units and businesses are located in a flood plain and were flooded in September. Of the 28 businesses operating before the flood, two are currently open.
Borough Secretary Melissa Weber said the Borough Council planning committee met with FEMA officials last week and learned the borough had been selected for the program. FEMA officials will attend Wednesday’s council meeting to discuss help available to the borough through the program.
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