SUNBURY - Early damage estimates for four area municipal entities stemming from last month's flooding exceeds $1.5 million - a figure certain to grow and one officials hope to recoup through federal and state assistance.
Shamokin alone incurred an estimated $1.25 million in losses, nearly $1 million of it in damage to the channels for Shamokin Creek and Carbon Run. Repairs include heavy wall damage and washouts and damage to nearby roadways throughout the city, along with base scouring of some sections of the channels and stone bed replacement in others.
That total will multiply as damage estimates to Mill Square Road Complex and American Legion Building are added. Mill Road sustained roof damage and leaking and the Legion building sustained basement flooding and damage to flooring, drywall and a boiler.
Costs to demolish six homes along South Rock Street and install a new levee in that area, along with dredging of Carbon Run, are also yet to be determined.
Disaster zone
Tropical Storm Lee drenched the Northeast between Sept. 7 and Sept. 10, leading Northumberland County to be designated a disaster area by President Barack Obama on Sept. 13. It's on a list of 24 Pennsylvania counties declared disaster zones.
All told, more than 20 inches of rain fell in the county last month, much of it coming in heavy doses and causing additional flooding throughout the lower end of the county and beyond.
As it stood Monday, $76,830.78 in flood-related costs was invoiced for Shamokin-Coal Township Joint Sewer Authority, including more than $56,000 in electrical work and another $1,596 in overtime.
The flooding at the Weigh Scales facility was enough to displace its office staff for the foreseeable future. Authority staff is temporarily housed inside the site of the former Trains 'n' Things in downtown Shamokin.
Authority officials expect damage totals to surpass $500,000.
Coal Township officials' early estimate of losses is $88,481.79, which includes damage to roadways, equipment costs and employee overtime.
However, Rob Slaby, township manager, said the municipality will pursue upgrades to the Shamokin Creek channel in Ranshaw, Tharptown and in the Big Mountain area, which would send that estimate higher.
Overtime alone for Coal Township Street Department between Sept. 7 and Sept. 10 totaled $5,995.17 and another $1,303.13 from Sept. 11 to Sept. 16.
Debris removal, including Dumpster rentals, cost Shamokin a combined $26,338.49 in two invoices submitted by Mostik Bros. and Waste Management, respectively. Coal Township spent $18,083.99 to rent and empty 28 Dumpsters on three separate dates from Heim's Disposal and Disposal Management Services.
Costs incurred by Ralpho Township are estimated at $123,194 so far, including $90,367 for infrastructure repair and $2,827 for overtime and road barriers.
Nearly three dozen representatives of various Northumberland County municipal entities affected by flooding last month attended a meeting with state and federal emergency officials Monday in Sunbury.
Deadline Nov. 9
Request for Public Assistance applications to be submitted by municipal entities are due Nov. 9. The federal government will fund 75 percent of an approved application, the remaining 25 percent coming from the state.
All emergency repair work must be completed by March 3, 2012, and permanent work by March 3, 2013; however, extensions for both types of repair work may be granted on a case-by-case basis.
Along with county and municipal entities and school districts, private non-profits such as fire and emergency service agencies can apply for public assistance.