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Published on: 3/9/2019

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Southcentral Regional Director Joe Adams joined York County Office of Emergency Management and township leaders March 7 to discuss how Gov. Tom Wolf’s aggressive infrastructure plan, Restore Pennsylvania, would help communities dealing with the aftermath of flooding.

 


Unprecedented rainfall last summer caused calamitous flood damage in areas of Chanceford Township. Now six months later, seven township roads and bridges remain closed. Township officials are struggling with the associated costs of repairing the damaged infrastructure that would cost $2.7 million. For comparison, Chanceford Township's annual operating budget is around $1.5 million.

“Municipalities can plan for rainy days, but extreme weather events can wash away even the best-laid plans in a matter of hours,” Adams said. “Unexpected flood repairs can drain a municipality’s budget. Restore Pennsylvania will provide financial relief to make necessary repairs and allow communities to return to normal.”

Gov. Wolf’s bold infrastructure initiative would be funded by the monetization of a severance tax. The program would invest $4.5 billion over the next four years in significant, high-impact projects throughout the commonwealth to help catapult Pennsylvania ahead of every state in the country in terms of technology, development and infrastructure.

Last summer, parts of Chanceford Township received more than 10 inches of rain in a few hours, causing creeks and streams to overflow. The resulting road closures and bridge outages are dividing communities and detouring emergency personnel. The estimated cost to repair the damaged infrastructure is more than five times what the township budgets for road repairs and maintenance.

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency visited Hellam Township on March 1 to discuss how Restore Pennsylvania could help another area of York County ravaged by the August floods.

 

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