SUNBURY - In the wake of last week's flooding, those who have suffered property loss and damage are urged to be diligent in filing loss claims.
There are two steps all county residents who have experienced loss in the flood, regardless of severity, are implored to take: call the Federal Emergency Management Agency and visit a county disaster relief center between today and Friday to file separate claims.
A successful claim with FEMA will put a check into an individual's hands.
Just as important are individual claims made through the county and bound for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency that will go a long way toward determining how much federal disaster-relief funding the state will be awarded to repair and replace roadways and bridges, among other uses affecting the public.
At a meeting held Tuesday at the Northumberland County Administration Center, more than 50 representatives of most of the county's 36 municipalities gathered to receive direction from county, state and federal officials on steps needed to be taken to successfully apply for federal disaster aid.
While it's too early to put an exact number on the amount of destruction caused last week when Tropical Storm Lee dumped more than a foot of rain across the state, it's safe to say the number of claims to be filed will be at least in the high hundreds and the amount of damage totaled well into the millions.
In Shamokin, more than 100 claims were already filed, while in neighboring Coal Township, 28 property owners filed claims. One Tharptown family's claim alone was for $130,000 - the estimated amount lost since their home was destroyed by flooding.
FEMA's arrival
"FEMA's already here, which is an unexpected surprise," Jerome Alex, operations officer for Northumberland County Emergency Operations Command, said at the meeting's outset.
Those FEMA representatives - Don Roy and Tom Hyde - had arrived in the area just three hours prior to the meeting. They'll be among the FEMA officials expected to begin canvassing the county today.
"I never personally hit the ground running after a disaster like this," Roy said.
With President Barack Obama's disaster declaration Tuesday for 19 Pennsylvania counties, including Northumberland, Schuylkill, Montour and Columbia, federal assistance is now available in the form of temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured and underinsured property loses and other programs to help individuals and business owners in the recovery effort.
Individuals and business owners seeking federal disaster assistance must call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (TTY: 1-800-462-7585) to file a claim. Claims may also be filed online at www.disasterassistance.gov or via smart phone or tablet at m.fema.gov.
When applying for aid, the following is needed: Social Security Number (including spouse's); private insurance information, if available; address of damaged property; directions to damaged property; daytime phone number and current mailing address.
Quite frankly, if a flood-affected person doesn't call and register with FEMA, Roy said they won't get any help.
Roy was asked repeatedly by Vinny Clausi, county commissioner, and others for information on disaster aid - total amount available, approximate funding an individual can expect, how quickly a claim could be awarded, if claims for damaged heating units would be expedited - but said he couldn't answer.
However, he said the more quickly a claim is filed, the faster it would be addressed by FEMA. As for how much federal funding would be available for an individual's claim, he said that would be determined on a case-by-case basis.
As for a deadline to file disaster claims, Alex said one does not exist - yet.
State funding
Four county disaster relief centers will open today and remain open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Friday at Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, Eighth and Arch streets, Shamokin; the county administration center, 399 S. Fifth St., Sunbury; Lower Northumberland County Senior Action Center, Route 147, Herndon; and Milton Senior Action Center, 219 Filbert St., Milton.
The centers are operating to walk applicants through the process when filing the one-page individual damage assessment form. Applicants must know the value of their building and the estimated damage to a flood-damaged building's contents in order to apply.
From there, they'll be asked what type of damage the building sustained - foundation, floor, frame, roof, utility, etc. - which will then be used to calculate total estimated damage.
Help is also available at the district offices of state Rep. Kurt Masser, R-107, Route 147, Elysburg, state Rep. Linda Schlegel Culver, R-108, Sunbury, and state Sen. John Gordner, R-27, Route 61, Mount Carmel.
Gordner said during Tuesday's meeting that several bills are expected to be introduced next week in the state legislature toward more greatly supplementing available federal aid.
If a homeowner is covered by flood insurance, officials said individuals should still do the separate assessments and file claims, a process that could catch something possibly missed by an insurance company.
"Don't stop the process because you have homeowners or flood insurance," Alex said.
It was again urged that ample documentation be taken by those affected by the flood - be it photos, videos and retail receipts.
"If a person can take a picture of junk piled up in front of their house, that's the best picture to take," Gordner said, while adding photos of water levels inside homes are helpful.
Municipalities are tasked to document their own losses, along with additional labor and materials costs associated with flood cleanup. Volunteer fire companies are also eligible for relief and must complete documentation through their respective municipalities.
Business owners can receive information of disaster relief by calling Pat Mack, county planning director.
Eugene Welsh, Coal Township commissioner, asked Alex how well-staffed the centers would be. Alex didn't give a number of volunteers expected to be at each center, but said staffing would meet demand at each site.
For more information, contact the county's emergency operations center at 988-4217 or 988-4218.
On the net: http://www.nifocus.com/flood/2011_Flood_Assement_Form.pdf