Red Cross addresses
In many cases, the best someone can do to help flood victims, besides lending a physical hand, is to contribute to the American Red Cross. Local chapter addresses include:
Schuylkill and Eastern Northumberland County
1402 Laurel Boulevard
Pottsville, Pa. 17901
SUN Area Chapter
30 N. Fifth St.
Sunbury, Pa. 17801
Make checks payable to the chapter. Include "Flood" in the memo to be sure the money is used for the relief effort. Also, you can call the Schuylkill-Eastern Northumberland chapter at 339-1246 to make a donation via credit card.
CSO collection continues
SHAMOKIN - Central Susquehanna Opportunities (CSO) Inc. continues to accept donations for local flood victims of Northumberland, Montour and Columbia counties. A Disaster Relief Center has been set up on the second floor of the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center at 2 E. Arch St., Shamokin .
Cash donations are needed. Donors may specify which area they would like to help. Make checks payable to "CSO Inc. Northumberland County Flood Relief" or log onto www.censop.com to donate using PayPal at the bottom of the website.
The following donations are also needed and may also be dropped off at the Disaster Relief Center:
- Cleaning supplies: mops, buckets, bleach, disinfectants, garbage bags, rubber gloves, etc.
- Hygiene products: soap, shampoo, laundry detergent, etc.
- Bottled water
For questions or to volunteer, call CSO at 644-6575 ext. 171. (NOTE: A press release published Wednesday incorrectly gave a 648 exchange.)
CSCF sets up disaster relief fund
BERWICK - The Central Susquehanna Community Foundation (CSCF) is accepting donations of any amount for the Disaster Relief Fund of the Central Susquehanna Valley, which will benefit residents of Snyder, Northumberland, Union, Montour, Columbia and lower Luzerne County. 100 percent of the donations received will be used to help individuals and families of the area affected by recent fundings.
The foundation has already responded to urgent needs with disaster relief grants from various endowed funds administered by CSCF. Additional monetary grants for disaster relief will be distributed equitably across the region to assist with existing and emerging needs of flood victims. All donations are fully tax deductible.
To donate, send a check to Central Susquehanna Community Foundation, c/o 2859 N. Susquehanna Trail, P.O. Box 10, Shamokin Dam, PA 17876. For more information on the foundation, visit their website at www.csgiving,org.
Mount Carmel Township residents should log damage
ATLAS - Any Mount Carmel Township resident who received damage during the recent flooding should contact the Mount Carmel Township Municipal Building at 339-1287.
Football group helping
ELYSBURG - The Ralpho Raiders Midget Football Team and the Cheerleaders have teamed together to set up a collection area for the area flood victims. With many friends, families, neighbors and co-workers losing many of their possessions and things you need to get through everyday the boys and girls have asked to do this for their communities.
They are looking for detergents, cleaning items, toiletries, clothing, soap/personal items, household items, toys, bottled water, and anything able to be donated.
The All Home Day Association donated the Arts/Craft Building on the All Home Day grounds to use to store these items and have families come to get what they need.
The will be there Monday, Sept. 19, until Thursday, Sept. 22, during football practice from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Any one with questions, please call Sandy 490-3276, Barb 672-5067 or Audie 898-6070. Donors can also call 486-8244 with questions or to make arrangements to come and pick up the items at your home.
Superior Energy phone numbers
PAXINOS - Superior Energy Services are currently experiencing trouble with their local phone numbers. If you need to reach Superior Plus Energy Services for any reason, please dial (888) MONTOUR, or (888) 666-8687.
Disaster unemployment assistance available.
HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Secretary Julia Hearthway today announced the availability of federal disaster unemployment assistance (DUA) benefits to individuals unemployed, including self-employed workers, as a result of Tropical Storm Lee and the severe storms, heavy rains and flooding that have resulted since Sept. 3.
The federal DUA was made possible after approval of Governor Tom Corbett's request that affected counties be declared disaster areas. DUA is available under the federal disaster declaration for Tropical Storm Lee in Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Schuylkill, Snyder, and Union counties. Additional disaster-related services are available at local Disaster Recovery Centers which are being established in Bradford, Columbia, Dauphin, Lycoming, Luzerne and Wyoming counties.
"The flooding has impacted residents, homes and businesses," Hearthway said. "Labor and Industry and the rest of state government are moving quickly to provide the resources our people need to get back to normal and return to work."
Pennsylvanians who are unemployed as a result of either storm can apply immediately for regular state unemployment compensation (UC) if the employment was covered under the state UC law, or for the special federal DUA benefits.
DUA is available to individuals who are self-employed or who would not normally qualify for regular state assistance. DUA covers people who, as a direct result of the disaster, no longer have a job, are unable to reach their place of employment, were to begin work and were prevented by the disaster, cannot work because of an injury or illness caused as a direct result of the disaster, or have become a breadwinner or major supporter of a household because the head of the household died as a direct result of the disaster.
Unemployment is considered a direct result of the disaster if it resulted from the physical damage or destruction of the place of employment; the physical inaccessibility of the place of employment due to its closure by the federal, state, or local government in immediate response to the disaster; or lack of work, or loss of revenues, if, prior to the disaster, the employer or self-employed business received at least a majority of its revenue or income from an entity in the major disaster area that was damaged or destroyed in the disaster or an entity in the major disaster area closed by the federal, state, or local government.
Applicants may file for DUA by calling toll free at 877-FILE DUA (877-345-3382), from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Individuals using a text telephone (TTY) may call toll free at 888-334-4046.
Applicants should be prepared to provide a Social Security Number and, if possible, any documents that show earnings and employment for the tax year that ended prior to their unemployment as a result of the disaster. Claimants must file DUA applications no later than Oct. 14. UC claimants not affected by the storms should continue to file claims online at www.uc.pa.gov.
Housing assistance
People seeking temporary, affordable housing should visit www.pahousingsearch.com. Those without Internet access can call 1-877-428-8844 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays.
Help seeking temporary housing is also available through disaster recovery agencies.
Water testing kits
It was reported Tuesday that water testing kits are available to municipalities through Northumberland County Emergency Management Agency, 911 Greenough St., Suite 2, Sunbury, or state Department of Environmental Protection's Sunbury office at 309 N. Fifth St., Suite D.
The tests are to be returned to DEP's Sunbury office between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.