ELYSBURG - As U.S. Congressman Tom Marino toured Northumberland County to assess the damage of recent flooding, he brought with him hope that those affected would see relief in the near future.
"It's time to give these people a hand up, not a hand out," Marino said Tuesday afternoon.
Marino said he has been in contact with Congressman Mike Rogers, of Alabama, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Transportation Security who will add appropriations in a bill for hurricane and flood relief.
"We hope to bring it to the House floor next week, and once it passes, flood aid could be distributed before September is over," Marino said.
He made the announcement at Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, while touring the park.
"We are working hard and will be back this weekend," owner Dick Knoebel told the congressman. "We won't be 100 percent, but we will be open.
As Knoebel took Marino, members of his staff and State Rep. Kurt Masser around the park they discussed muddy pavilion floors, damaged rides and displaced benches - even the historic 220-year-old log was moved.
"That's a 220-year-old log and it was floating around here and just slammed into one of the cottages," Knoebel said as Marino looked on. "The Ol' Smokey train was found laying on its side and some of the track was damaged, but she will be running."
The visitors were amazed to see certain areas look as good as new, despite flood waters coming close to Agnes' level in 1972. The congressman praised Knoebels for the work they have been doing, especially the 200 people working in the park to clean it up and get it back open. Marino joked, "Maybe some of the people involved in FEMA (The Federal Emergency Management Agency) should come up and get some pointers."
Marino left Washington D.C. last week and has stayed in the district since to view flood damage.
"We got hit hard and some areas are in very bad shape, people have had their houses condemned," Marino said. "I am the first person to say I want less government in our lives, but the government's job is to take care of people when they need it, and we need to make our people whole again."
"Another big concern is the number of people who lost their heating systems, especially with winter coming up," Masser added.
Marino pitched a more proactive approach in the relief effort.
"FEMA is hoping to do all this through the Internet and phone calls, but my staff is ready to help people who need it," he said. "The federal government needs to be way ahead of the curve in this matter and give the people the help they need. We can figure out how to pay for it later."
Marino also called for a reassessment of the flood plain throughout the Eastern Seaboard.