Category: Flood 2011

  • Disasters Can Severely Impact the Elderly

    HARRISBURG, Pa. — The losses following Pennsylvania’s storms and flooding last month may be magnified for the elderly. Seniors previously living on their own may be dependent on others for food, shelter and the necessities of daily living. Those used to assisted living may face upheaval in their normal routines or a change in their usual caregivers. Additionally, the stress of the disaster itself can cause significant challenges. Symptoms of stress unique to the elderly include: Reliving events in their lives when they were traumatized or suffered severe losses. Fear of losing their independence or self-sufficiency. Fear of a decline…

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  • Building Permit Fees Cause Lively Town Council Debate

    Building Permit Fees Cause Lively Town Council Debate

    There was spirited discussion last night at the Bloomsburg Town Council meeting over the payment of Building Permit Fees, occupying nearly 20 minutes of the hour-long session. The issue centered around whether or not the Town should maintain, waive, or reduce the permit fees for the part of the population repairing their flood-damaged homes. Ultimately no decision was reached on the fees, with the issue being postponed for further discussion until the Administrative and Budget Council meeting on Wednesday, November 9th. Town residents are normally required to pay the Town a building permit fee of $10 per $1,000 spent on…

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  • Kiwanis and Fashion Delivers Bring Clothing to Flood Victims

    Kiwanis and Fashion Delivers Bring Clothing to Flood Victims

    Social Clubs and Industry Organizations alike have come together to assist those who lost much in the recent flooding. One such example is the partnership between The Bloomsburg Kiwanis Club and Fashion Delivers Charitable Foundation, Inc.An association of both wholesale and retail fashion industry vendors, Fashion Delivers coordinates with a global network of more than one thousand local agencies, providing aid to those in need, as well as economic and philanthropic alternatives for companies disposing of their excess inventory. Marianne Kreisher Fogelsanger, a Bloomsburg native, attorney at Kreisher & Gregorowicz, and President of the Bloomsburg Chapter of Kiwanis International, worked…

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  • Look Out for Signs of Post-Disaster Stress

    HARRISBURG, Pa. — The initial trauma from Pennsylvania’s two late-summer disasters – Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee – has passed, but the psychological effects can linger. Stress caused by loss or a traumatic experience can sneak up on people and influence behavior and emotions. The elderly and children are particularly vulnerable to stress after a disaster and may require special considerations. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have developed a list of things to look for and tips for helping yourself and others get through this difficult time. Some common signs of stress are: Trouble…

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  • Rep. Millard Talks with Fernville Residents

    Here is the live blog of the meeting between Rep. Millard and Fernville Residents Here is the live stream archive of the meeting between Rep. Millard and Fernville Residents Pennsylvania State Representative David Millard held a meeting last night with his constituents from the Fernville area. The meeting, which was scheduled to last an hour, ended up going on for nearly two hours with many questions from residents who were angry, unsure about their futures, and concerned about mixed messages from all levels of government. Some felt the meeting itself was poorly communicated and had only heard about it several…

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  • Rep. Millard Works To Streamline Flood Relief

    State Representative David Millard held a public meeting at the request of the residents of Fernville on the evening of October 20th, 2011. With the discussion revolving around the uncertainty of when and how Fernville residents would receive funds for the repair or acquisition of their damaged properties, Rep. Millard assured those in attendance that their well-being and care are his primary concern. “This event was of such a magnitude, that we need to take people out of harm’s way,” Rep. Millard stated. “I want to facilitate that.” Most of the residents in attendance reported receiving varying information from local,…

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  • Live Stream of Rep. Millard Fernville Meeting

    Here is the video archive of the meeting between Rep. Millard, Hemlock Township officials, and Fernville residents. Part 1 of 3 Part 2 of 3 Part 3 of 3

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  • Live Blog of Rep. Millard Fernville Meeting

    7:46 Meeting Ends 7:41 Resident reporting a past meeting with Army Corps of Engineers and their aversion to dredging because the waterway beds refill in just 15 years 7:40 Rep Millard said among his goals is to remove the worst of the debris along fishing creek 7:36 Rep millard asked for FEMA rep to be here tonight, but FEMA was unable to attend. Rep Millard said that FEMA will be presenting to the General Assembly and has a commitment from FEMA to attend at future meetings. These meetings with Rep Millard and FEMA will be advertised in the press and…

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  • An Update on FEMA Funds and Mobile Homes

    The Bloomsburg Daily had a chance to talk with Eugene Brezeny from the FEMA News Desk in Harrisburg this morning.  The goal was to get a status update on the amount of funds disbursed to Columbia County at this point, as well as to get an update on the status of FEMA mobile homes and when they might show up in the area. In the statistics news, as of this morning (10/20/2011), FEMA has received 2329 disaster assistance applications from Columbia County for Tropical Storm Lee.  Of those, 1436 have been approved. Those approved applications represent $7 million in assistance to Columbia…

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  • Not By Memory Alone

    Not By Memory Alone

    It’s critical that we not rely on memory, on word of mouth for that type of an emergency. Because if it’s four decades from now, we’re going to need to have everything compiled, have this written, memorialized. –Mayor Dan Knorr, October 18th, 2011 Records of the 1972 flood exist to be sure, but they don’t tell the entire story. There are pictures, maps, lists of names and statistics. But what these records lack is the immediate story, the conversation that takes place daily among friends and neighbors, the conversation that has taken and is still taking place in the streets…

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