KNOXVILLE/WESTFIELD – State Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23), along with State Rep. Clint Owlett (R-68), State Rep. Joe Hamm (R-84) and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield visited some of the worst flood-affected areas in Tioga and Lycoming counties earlier this week. The intense flooding was caused by the remnants of Hurricane Debby, which passed through the region on Friday.
“The damage left behind by the storms and flooding is devastating,” Yaw said. “The resilience and determination of the people here is truly inspiring and in the face of overwhelming destruction, our first responders have shown extraordinary courage and dedication. Rep. Owlett, Rep. Hamm and I are committed to ensuring that state resources are swiftly mobilized to support recovery efforts. We will work together with PEMA and local officials to rebuild stronger and safer communities.”
“Knowing this community as I do, we should not be surprised by the strength of the response, but it is something we must never take for granted,” Owlett said. “Our fire and EMS providers are almost exclusively volunteers. They have given so much of their time to train for disasters like this, and for the last several days they have put that training into practice, giving hope and saving lives. While I am devastated to see what so many of our friends and neighbors are going through, I am also deeply proud of how people are pulling together to help one another.”
“Although the losses from the recent flooding events have been extensive, the great people of Lycoming and Tioga Counties are strong and resilient,” Hamm said. “Our local volunteer first responders have been incredible and have gone above and beyond to help their neighbors in need. I encourage anyone who experienced damage from the flooding to report it to the county and their local Emergency Management Coordinator if they have not already done that. Our community has come together to help one another and I’ve been inspired by the outpouring of help I’ve witnessed firsthand. I will continue to do everything I can to make sure our area has the proper resources from the state to get roads reopened, buildings rebuilt and homes restored.”
While flood waters have receded, attention now turns to relief and recovery efforts. At the request of county emergency management officials, PEMA deployed a 19-member multi-agency Incident Management Team (PA-IMT) to assist with recovery operations.
The PA-IMT is a commonwealth asset with specialists trained in disaster response and recovery operations. The 19-member team consists of personnel from PEMA, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Departments of Corrections, Conservation and Natural Resources and Health. The PA-IMT began operations yesterday. The deployment will last one week and may be extended if the need for assistance continues.
Officials are strongly encouraging residents and business owners affected by the flood to take a large number of photos of damaged items to help document the communities’ losses. Anyone who has not yet reported damages to their properties, or who is uncertain if their property has been included, should call the Tioga County Emergency Operations Center at 570-724-9110, the Lycoming County Emergency Operations Center at 570-433-4461 or the Potter County Department of Emergency Services at 814-274-8900 ext. 555. Other impacted areas throughout the region are also eligible and should call the Emergency Operations Center of their county to report damage. Municipalities should report any damage to roads, bridges or other infrastructure caused by the flooding.
Following the tour, the lawmakers praised members of the community for their donations of food, water and cleaning supplies to help those affected by the floods. They also reiterated their ongoing advocacy for policy changes to ensure better maintenance of creeks and streams to help minimize the impact of flooding in the future. Those changes would include efforts to streamline permitting and empower local officials and landowners to take the necessary steps to protect lives and property.
Last session, the General Assembly advanced bills that would create a continuous maintenance permit that could be issued to municipalities or PennDOT for a period of at least 10 years, allow counties and their conservation districts to issue emergency maintenance permits, create a permit specific to smaller maintenance projects and clarify the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has no authority for permitting or enforcement related to stream clearing or maintenance activities. However, the measures did not make it to the governor’s desk to become law.
For more state-related news and information, constituents can visit Sen. Yaw’s website at www.SenatorGeneYaw.com, Rep. Owlett’s website at www.RepClintOwlett.com or Rep. Hamm’s website at www.RepJoeHamm.com.
CONTACT:
Elizabeth Weitzel (Sen. Yaw)
717-787-3280
Patricia Hippler (Rep. Owlett)
717-772-9846
Erik Houser (Rep. Hamm)
570-546-2084