Tag: flood 2011
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FEMA Working to Deliver Trailers
Read more: FEMA Working to Deliver TrailersSlightly over two months have passed since the historic flooding of Tropical Storm Lee pounded the Bloomsburg area. In the wake of the disaster, the need to find homes for hundreds of displaced people has taken center stage. The number of rental properties and existing homes for sale pales in comparison to the overall need. FEMA has been working in 14 hour shifts to be ready in time for Thanksgiving at Stony Brook Circle near Lightstreet. The long awaited trailers will allow flood victims who qualify to live in them rent-free for up to 18 months. That is very welcomed…
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Mayor and Town Representatives Show Strong Front in D.C.
Read more: Mayor and Town Representatives Show Strong Front in D.C.On Wednesday, November 2nd, Mayor Dan Knorr, members of the Bloomsburg Town Council, the Bloomsburg Area Joint Flood Control Authority, the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce, Rieter Automotive, Windsor Foods, the Bloomsburg Fair Association and the Columbia County Commissioners met with US Senator Bob Casey, Congressman Lou Barletta, and staff from Senator Pat Toomey’s office to discuss federal government support for floodwall protection along the Susquehanna River and lower Fishing Creek. Ostensibly what appeared to be yet another in a long series of meetings with federal government representatives and officials, instead presented a strong, united front of local government, business,…
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Flood Help and Events
Read more: Flood Help and EventsJulie Kuntz Klingerman is the adminstrator of the Helping Neighbors – Bloomsburg Flood 2011 Facebook group. She will be helping us compile flood-related help and events. The “Turn the Page” book drive is in full swing at the Columbia Mall near Dunham’s. Over 30,000 books are available for children of all ages who have lost their libraries. The books are being handed out for free, and children of all ages may choose up to a dozen books. The hours are: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – Closed Thursday – 4:00 – 7:00 Friday – 4:00 – 7:00 Saturday – 1:00 – 7:00 Sunday…
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Donors Help Magic Carpet Preschool Get Back to Barton Street
Read more: Donors Help Magic Carpet Preschool Get Back to Barton StreetWhen Penny Pomfret, director of Magic Carpet Preschool in Bloomsburg, dismissed her students early on September 7th from their Barton Street location, she was thinking about flooding but was focusing on the potential for losses in the school’s basement. “I did not realize how destructive the flood would be until I woke up Thursday morning after it had already happened. We went to bed Wednesday evening believing [the river] would crest at 28 feet, much less than Agnes.” Because the school’s current location was not flooded during Agnes, the main concerns were water in the basement and the potential loss…
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Time is Running Out – Only Two Weeks Left to Register for Disaster Aid
Read more: Time is Running Out – Only Two Weeks Left to Register for Disaster AidHARRISBURG, Pa. — Survivors of the storms and flooding that ravaged central and eastern Pennsylvania have only two weeks left to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for disaster assistance. The deadline to register is November 14, 2011. Individuals who live, work, or own a business in the 29 Pennsylvania counties designated under the disaster declarations for Hurricane Irene and Tropical Strom Lee are eligible. The counties are Adams, Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Chester, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Montgomery, Montour, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Union, Wyoming, and York.…
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Your Thoughts: Building Permit Fees for Flood Victims
Read more: Your Thoughts: Building Permit Fees for Flood VictimsThe Town Council meeting last night was not the only place where the issue of building permit fees for flood victims was discussed. Our article commenters and Facebook groups have contributed many interesting and thought-provoking viewpoints on the subject. (Original article, Building Permit Fees Cause Lively Town Council Debate). Add your comments here if you haven’t had a chance to weigh in on the discussion. Here are some of the opinions of our readers: This is a very sticky situation. Could they possibly reduce the fees for flood victims? — Diane Building permits cover the cost of a building inspector…
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AGAPE in Dire Need of Volunteers
Read more: AGAPE in Dire Need of VolunteersAGAPE is in dire need of volunteers. The need for help (especially during the day) is now critical with the new applications for financial assistance coming in as well as an increased demand for furniture, appliances etc. as flood survivors begin to get back on their feet. In the words of an AGAPE employee, “It was a zoo yesterday and as you know not one person there is a paid employee.” The crisis is over but the emergency is not. AGAPE is requesting volunteers to fill positions at the dates and times listed below. Please understand that any part of the…
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Disasters Can Severely Impact the Elderly
Read more: Disasters Can Severely Impact the ElderlyHARRISBURG, 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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Kiwanis and Fashion Delivers Bring Clothing to Flood Victims
Read more: Kiwanis and Fashion Delivers Bring Clothing to Flood VictimsSocial 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
Read more: Look Out for Signs of Post-Disaster StressHARRISBURG, 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…