HARRISBURG - Senators representing Northeast Pennsylvania plan to focus on disaster relief and response issues in coming weeks in the wake of record flooding in the Susquehanna River Basin and earlier damages from Hurricane Irene.
Sens. John Gordner, R-27, Berwick; Gene Yaw, R-23, Williamsport; Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Twp.; John Blake, D-22, Archbald; and John Yudichak, D-14, Nanticoke, will unveil a bipartisan package of bills Monday to provide special flood relief assistance to individuals, business owners and municipal governments.
"With floodwaters having reached record levels in some areas, existing federal and state programs may not be enough," said Baker, who chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.
"There is a bipartisan commitment to deal with this emergency.," Baker said.
Yudichak said the Legislature has approved special relief packages in the past to respond to earlier disasters of massive and widespread scope.
The senator said he's working on a recovery plan to help area businesses hit by flooding and has discussed the matter with state Revenue Secretary Dan Meuser, a Shavertown resident.
Baker will also conduct several committee hearings on topics ranging from creating a state disaster assistance fund to the utilities' response to prolonged power outages after Hurricane Irene.
The first is a Sept. 27 joint hearing with the respective House emergency committee on whether to create a state disaster assistance fund for cases where disaster damages fall short of monetary thresholds needed to obtain federal aid.
"We have been approached by many individuals and municipalities who have sustained extensive damage as a result of a natural disaster, but who do not qualify for federal aid," said Baker aide Jennifer Wilson.
For example, Plymouth Borough and Plymouth Twp. sustained more than $1.3 million in damages after a severe flood in July, but their damage estimates for roads and bridges didn't meet the statewide threshold of $16 million required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for federal aid for public works repairs, Ms. Wilson added.
A bill to create a state disaster fund to give low-interest loans to individuals and businesses and grants to municipalities was introduced in the House this week by Rep. Scott Petri, R-178, Richboro. Similar bills have appeared during the past half dozen years, but not seen passage.
Baker's committee will hold a hearing Oct. 18 on the storm-related power outages and a hearing later this fall on state emergency response and recovery laws in general.
Meanwhile, Gordner and Mr. Yaw have closed district offices in Bloomsburg and Towanda, respectively, due to flooding damages.
Gordner opened a temporary office at the Bloomsburg Regional Technology Center at 240 Market St. The 784-3464 phone number for the Bloomsburg office is being forwarded to the technology center.
Employees from Yaw's Towanda office are working from his Williamsport office.
The Senate returns to session Monday following a summer recess. The House returns Sept. 26.
Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com