the citizens' voice - sept. 10, 2011
DESCRIPTION
The print edition of The Citizens' Voice, edited from a makeshift newsroom and printed as a sister newspaper after the rapidly rising Susquehanna River forced an evacuation of Wilkes-Barre, Pa.TRANSCRIPT
CITIZENS’ VOICESPECIAL FLOOD COVERAGE EDITION
42.66 feet
‘Extremely stressed’
levee system holds
at an historic level
YOU’RE READING THE BEST NEWSPAPER IN PENNSYLVANIAAS VOTED BY THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS — READ MORE ABOUT THE HONOR AT CITIZENSVOICE.COM/AWARDS
© 2011 The Citizens’ Voice
Saturday, September 10, 2011 Newsstand 50¢COVERING THE GREATER WYOMING VALLEY
ASSESSMENT // ‘EXTREME LIMITS OF FLOOD CONTROL’
INDEXAlmanac 47
Advice 28
Birthdays 31
Business A3
Classifieds A6-B10
Comics 24-26
Editorial 16
Horoscope 28
National A1
Obituaries 34-35
Public Notices A6
Puzzles 25-26
Sports 38-48
Stocks A4
Television 28
DAY NIGHT
Daily # 490 299
Big 4 9885 8952
DAY NIGHT
Quinto 56809 96597
Cash 5 4, 6, 10, 18, 27
Cash 5: One player matched the five num-bers drawn and won $225,000.Treasure Hunt: No players matched the fivenumbers drawn. Jackpot rolls to $20,000.Mega Millions: 7, 12, 19, 23, 31;Megaball: 45; Multiplier: 4; Jackpot: $44M
LOTTERY NUMBERS
Double Draw 3722
Treasure Hunt 2, 6, 11, 15, 18
(ISSN 1070-8626) USPS 450-590The Citizens’ Voice is published daily by Times-Shamrock, 75 N. WashingtonSt., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. Periodicals postage is paid at Wilkes-Barre, PA.Postmaster: Send address changes to The Citizens’ Voice, 75 N. Washington St.,Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. 1-year, Luzerne County, $130.
INSIDE TODAY’S VOICE
Police apprehendcopper thievesFive people were arrested andcharged in thefts of copper fromtransmission tower. Page 35
ON THE COVER: An aerial view of the Susquehanna Riveras it snaked through Wilkes-Barre on Friday.(Michael J. Mullen / Times-Shamrock)
LEVEE PUSHEDBy Michael R. SisakStaff Writer
The Susquehanna Riversurged to a record crest of42.66 feet in Wilkes-Barre ear-ly Friday, inflicting unprece-dented stress on the LuzerneCounty levee system and dev-astating flooding on commu-nities not guarded by thefloodwalls.
Coffee-colored river waterstained streets and structuresfrom Jenkins Township toShickshinny, in some areassmelling like gasoline; rescu-ers pulled a family from arapidly filling home in WestPittston; and workers workedthroughout the day and nightto plug leaking portions ofthe levee in Forty Fort andWilkes-Barre.
Gov. Tom Corbett and U.S.Sens. Bob Casey and PatToomey toured flood-ravagedcommunities and pledgedample state and federal assis-tance.
President Barack Obamadeclared a federal emergencyearly Friday morning.
“We are at the extreme lim-its of the flood control sys-tem,” said Jim Brozena, theexecutive director of theLuzerne County Flood Pro-tection Authority.
The river crested around 3a.m. Friday, surpassing theprevious record high of 40.91feet during Tropical StormAgnes in 1972, but the figureremained unknown for hours
after a river gauge malfunc-tioned Thursday night.
Theleveesystem,protectingWilkes-Barre and severalneighboring communities,was built to withstand riverlevels up to 44 feet, Brozenasaid.
The river receded rapidlyafter cresting, falling to 37.4feet by 8 p.m., county officialssaid. Residents in the flood-plain will not be allowed toreturn home until the riverfalls below 28 feet, whichcould come sometime today.
Col. Dave Anderson of theArmy Corps of Engineersreported Friday afternoonthat the levee system was per-forming “extraordinarilywell” despite concerns aboutleaks in Forty Fort, Wilkes-Barre and Hanover Town-ship.
Still, Anderson warned,“this flood fight is not over.This flood system, this leveesystem has been incrediblystressed.”
Anderson, echoing thewords of state and countyofficials, advised residents ofcommunities nearest the riv-er to heed a mandatory evac-uation order issued Thursdayand remain far from the riveruntil officials declare it is safeto return.
“Put space between your-selves and the water,” Ander-son said.
Corbett aide Bill Goldswor-thy, the former mayor of WestPittston, had a more dire
warning: “You could die.”Brozena announced the
revised crest figure around 1p.m. following a closed-doormeeting with county leadersand emergency planners. The
National Weather Servicepreviously reported the rivercresting at 9:45 p.m., Thurs-day at 38.83 feet.
The U.S. Geological Survey,which maintains the flood
gauges, confirmed the crestlevel Friday morning afteremergency officials noticedunanticipated floodingeffects, Brozena said.
The disparity may have
created a false sense of secu-rity among residents confi-dent in the integrity of thelevee system, Corbett said.
SEE LEVEE, NEXT PAGE
JENKINS TOWNSHIP: U.S. Sen. Pat Toomeyleans over to get a closer look at debris piled upnear the Eighth Street Bridge. At left is LuzerneCounty Commissioner Stephen A. Urban.
3-Day Weekend Pass $10($15 value)
TODAY’S FORECAST
WILKES-BARRE EXTENDED FORECAST
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2011
Fog during the morning; somesun with a couple of thunder-storms today. Winds north-northeast 4-8 mph.78 58
73 58
Average normal highs/lows for the week: 74/53: A couple ofshowers and a thunderstorm tomorrow afternoon. Winds south-southwest 3-6 mph. Clouds and sun Monday. Winds northwest 6-12 mph. Mostly sunny Tuesday.
SSUUNNDDAAYY
Showers/t-storms
Last year: 75/46
78 58
MM OONNDDAAYY
Partlysunny62/57
80 60
TTUUEESSDDAAYY
Mostlysunny77/53
76 51
WWEEDDNNEESSDDAAYY
A t-stormpossible
72/48
67 45
TTHHUURRSSDDAAYY
Plenty ofsunshine
70/46
2–
THE
CIT
IZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATU
RD
AY,S
EPTE
MB
ER10,
2011
ASSESSMENT // ‘EXTREME LIMITS OF FLOOD CONTROL’
TO THE LIMIT
FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
“My concern is if we have a breach, peo-ple are just not paying attention and therewill be water sweeping down from FortyFort,” Corbett said.
Engineers worked into the wee hours Fri-day and again Friday afternoon to fortify a200-foot section of levee along the Susque-hanna River in Forty Fort that developed“stability issues” as rising floodwaters satu-rated the ground.
Brozena said Friday afternoon he believedworkers had “turned a corner” on efforts tofortify a section of the levee in Forty Fort.
Brozena said officials were concernedabout “under seepage,” a phenomenonwhere water courses under the levee wallsand forces its way into areas normally pro-tected by the levee.
Workers built a stabilizing berm along thesection of the levee, placing filter fabric androck materials against the floodwalls in aneffort to negate heavy pressure created bythe high river levels, Brozena said.
Officials were monitoring the berm toguard against possible breaches, Brozenasaid.
Anderson, who arrived in Wilkes-Barrearound 2:30 p.m. after touring other floodedparts of the state, said the record river levelshad been “a real stressor to the entire sys-tem.”
The river continued to leak through blowngaskets at the floodgates along the MarketStreet Bridge in Wilkes-Barre, Brozena said.Images of the flooding, across a wide stretch
of River Street and past the Sterling Hotelon Market Street, may have appeared direbut were not a major concern, Brozena said.
“There was never a structural issue withthose walls,” Brozena said, adding that thewater rushing through the walls did notmove at a significant velocity.
Lackawanna County CommissionerCorey O’Brien led a team of 10 workers fromhis county’s road and bridge department ina round-the-clock operation to move rocksand dirt into the path of the gushing water,directing it away from a pump station andriverfront businesses.
Workers also stabilized a disturbance inthe Brown Creek Pressure culvert in Plym-outh, filling holes measuring 15 feet in diam-eter after the swift currents removed metalcoverings, Brozena said.
The high river levels also wreaked havocon transportation infrastructure.
A massive mound of debris collectedagainst the north side of the partially sub-merged Eighth Street Bridge near Wyoming,redirecting raging waters toward the alreadyswollen shores. County officials said Fridaythey feared extensive damage to the PierceStreet Bridge in Wilkes-Barre.
In Wilkes-Barre, Mayor Tom Leightonurged residents to respect the danger of theunprecedented river levels and unpredictablecreeks running through the city. Earlier thatday, he ordered a mandatory evacuation forabout 300 people living in the Brookside sec-tion of the city when two swollen creeks sentwater cascading over at least two streets.
The city used a motorboat to rescue fivepeople stuck in the neighborhood. PPL Elec-tric Utilities also shut off power to about 65homes in the area.
“It goes without saying that Wilkes-Barrehas experienced long days this week, and webelieve it will be a long weekend,” Leightonsaid, adding that evacuees could be allowedhome Sunday at the earliest.
Friday afternoon, a contingent of city offi-cials led by Operations Director Butch Fratipointed out minor leaks along the levee andsurveyed the water spurting from the Mar-ket Street Bridge floodgates.
Though Leighton said it could cost upto $300,000 to replace a damaged wallalong Mill Creek, he could not yet place anexact monetary number on damages inthey city.
An elderly woman was found dead in herflooded West Pittston basement Friday, butofficials could not confirm whether herdeath was flood related.
Residents in West Pittston and other areasnot protected by the levee system reportedflooding levels higher than those during theprevious high, in the wake of TropicalStorm Agnes in 1972.
“I don’t care what they say the level was,”Carolyn White said, “It was higher here inWest Pittston than it was then.”
BOB KALINOWSKI, ANDREW STAUB and PATRICK SWEET,staff writers, contributed to this report.
[email protected], 570-821-2061, @cvmikesisak
By Josh McAuliffeStaff Writer
The clouds parted and the sun finallyemerged after a too-long absence. All in all,the perfect afternoon for a joyride high abovethe Susquehanna River.
The scenery was less pleasant.On Friday, Times-Tribune staff members
took to the skies in a Piper Archer II plane toget an aerial view of the havoc the Susque-hanna unleashed on the towns that line itsoverturned banks. Flying out of Tech Avia-tion Flight School at Wilkes-Barre/ScrantonInternational Airport, with pilot Jeremy Mor-ris at the controls, the plane traveled north toTowanda, in Bradford County, then turnedaround and made its way down to Shickshin-ny in Luzerne County.
Traveling a few thousand feet above thewinding, overloaded river gives a differentperspective, literally and figuratively.
Seeing devastation for mile after unob-structed mile lent perspective to the enormityof the disaster: millions of dollars, or more, inproperty damage, and untold lives upended.
The lofty vantage point also highlights howthese towns are — even those relativelyunscathed by the storm’s effects. They are notislands unto themselves, although from abovesome now resembled islands surrounded byacres of muddy, filthy water.
In Tunkhannock, a day after the river andTunkhannock Creek unleashed their furydowntown, the water appeared to be receding,although it could still be seen running up tothe walls of many of the quaint town’s land-marks, including Gay’s True Value Hard-ware.
Farther north, the Proctor & Gamble plantin Mehoopany loomed just as prominently.From the middle distance, the sprawling prop-erty looked to be untouched. That could notbe said of the tightly-woven collection ofhouses on the other side of the river.
Nearby, a single vehicle traveled along arusty metal blue bridge, while a fire truckparked along Route 6 near Laceyville sprayedplumes of water into the air.
And Wyalusing High School? It’s nowbeachfront property.
A steady caravan of cars crossed the Route6 bridge into downtown Towanda, but thetown had plenty of still-submerged pockets.There was no action on the runways at itspartially underwater airport.
The plane turned around and headedsouth.
SEE VIEW, PAGE 14
MARK MORAN / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
WEST PITTSTON: Sens. Bob Casey, left, and PatToomey speak with local officials Friday morning.
Devastationin perspective
THE
CITIZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATUR
DAY,
SEPTEM
BER
10
,20
11
–3
ASSESSMENT // RIVER UNDER PRESSURE
PITTSTON: A flooded Susquehanna River looking south. The river crestedat 42.66 feet Friday, nearly 2 feet higher than the 1972 Agnes record.
MICHAEL J. MULLEN / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
Levee system withstands testBy Patrick SweetStaff Writer
The record-breaking height of the Susquehanna Riverwas the most severe test of the Wyoming Valley leveesystem to date, and, in several parts of the county, offi-cials scrambled to make sure the system didn’t fail thattest.
The river eclipsed the 1972 Agnes record of 40.91 feet,cresting at 42.66 feet around 3 a.m. Friday. A faulty gauge,though, caused the National Weather Service to initiallyreport the river peaking at 38.83 feet, causing a falsesense of hope at the county’s Emergency ManagementAgency that Luzerne County would escape better thanprojected.
Jim Brozena, director of the county Flood ProtectionAuthority, said Friday that issues around the countymade the initial report appear incorrect.
“We saw some things on the levee,” Brozena said, “thatwere suspect at those (river) levels.”
Intense pressure from the massive volume of water, hesaid, began causing issues along the levee system.
In Forty Fort, the river pushed its way underneath thelevee early Thursday night, causing water to seep throughto the other side and threatening the integrity of the sys-tem. The Army Corps of Engineers with the help of thePennsylvania National Guard used a fabric cover andtons of sand, gravel and rock to hold the water at bay andtry to equalize pressure on both sides of the levee.
“We had under-seepage problems,” Brozena said. “… Thereports we have from the field is that we’ve made goodprogress on that. We believe we’ve turned the corner.”
Concerns in Forty Fort, though, continued through6:30 p.m. Friday as state police walked the streets in thearea, knocking on doors and urging people remaining in
their homes to obey the evacuation order.Col. Dave Anderson, commander of the Army Corps
of Engineers Baltimore District, and Brozena expressedconfidence in the levee system.
“This levee system has been incredibly stressed due tothis event,” Anderson said. “It performed as designed toprovide exactly the protection for which the Americanpeople paid for this project and local folks as well.”
At the Market Street Bridge in Wilkes-Barre, water con-tinued to leak through flood gate seals on Friday. Brozenaand EMA Director Steve Bekanich have both said someleaking is expected because the structure isn’t permanentand the water pressure was considerably high.
“Those seals were forced out,” Brozena said. “Therewas never a structural issue.”
The Army Corps of Engineers and National Guardtroops set up pumps and built makeshift rock and sandbarricades to ease flooding in Wilkes-Barre along RiverStreet.
As the day wore on, briefings from officials began toslow down as the projections showed the river beginningto recede. The evacuation order will remain in effectuntil the river level reaches 28 feet, sometime Saturdaynight. The river was projected to be at 38.1 feet at 8 p.m.Friday.
“There is nearly 40 feet of water that is sitting in thatriver right now, and it is dangerous,” Brozena said.“Twenty-eight feet is the number where we start to feelvery comfortable.”
KRISTEN MULLEN / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
WILKES-BARRE: Luzerne County EmergencyManagement Agency Director Steve Bekanich,left, along with county Flood Protection Au-thority Director Jim Brozena, said some leak-ing was expected through the flood gate seals.
4–
THE
CIT
IZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATU
RD
AY,S
EPTE
MB
ER10,
2011
ASSESSMENT // WEST SIDE
KRISTEN MULLEN / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
EDWARDSVILLE: Flood waters rose past the entrance to Kmart on Friday.
Mark Plaza inundatedDozens of onlookers were gathering on the top
of the levee Friday afternoon by the Mark Plazato see several flooded retail buildings, includingKmart and Redner’s Warehouse Market.
The river was about 7 feet shy of the top ofthe levee. Many onlookers were walking dogsand socializing. Police were trying to keep themoff the levee.
“We are still in a danger zone,” CouncilmanGary Mack said, noting flood water pressure onthe levee. A flood wall was erected on Route 11and connected the earthen levees on both sidesof the road.
“This has held up pretty well,” Mack said.Other flooded businesses included Long John
Silver’s, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Dollar General,Payless Shoes and That Bounce Place.
Edwardsville Mayor Bernard “Ace” Dubaskassaid borough police helped a Redner’s employeeget to his car Thursday afternoon as the riverbegan to take over the Mark Plaza parking lot.
In Larksville, the Carey Avenue Bridgeremained open Friday, but four businesses onU.S. Route 11 near the bridge were flooded.The river didn’t reach the Lark Diner onRoute 11. The river flooded Adult World, theLukoil gas station, Main Beverage Beer andGlen Bottling Co.
— Michael P. Buffer KRISTEN MULLEN / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
EDWARDSVILLE: Borough police helped a Redner’s WarehouseMarket employee get to his car after flood waters intruded.
THE
CITIZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATUR
DAY,
SEPTEM
BER
10
,20
11
–5
By Andrew Staub and Tom BrolleyStaff Writers
WILKES-BARRE — As emergency per-sonnel rescued five people from a floodedBrookside neighborhood and officials can-vassed the levee along the SusquehannaRiver for damage Friday, Mayor Tom Leigh-ton reminded residents to respect the dangerof the unprecedented water levels.
“This is the largest river crest that wehave experienced and one of the most seri-ous natural disasters that we’ve encoun-tered,” Leighton said. “We will work aroundthe clock and exhaust every resource wehave to get the city back to work and func-tioning on a normal basis. It will take time,but we will come back.”
While South Wilkes-Barre remaineddevoid of people and vehicles following amandatory evacuation ordered Thursday,about 300 residents of a northern section ofthe city found themselves fleeing Fridaymorning when two creeks swelled and cov-ered at least two Brookside streets with upto 5 feet of water.
Rescuers used a motor boat to evacuatefive people and three dogs from the neigh-borhood, city fire Chief Jay Delaney said.The city also took PPL Electric Utility work-ers on the boat to shut off power to about 65homes, he said.
Leighton urged all residents who had toleave their homes to remain out of the floodzone. The city has found people trying toreturn to their homes early, and Leightonsaid those who do risk arrest.
“I can’t stress enough that people mustevacuate from the flood zone and take ourwarning seriously,” Leighton said. “This is avery dangerous situation for all of us, includ-ing our professional service members.”
Residents could be allowed home on Sun-day, Leighton said. Emergency shelters havebeen set up in GAR High School, Solomon/Plains Junior High School and HanoverArea High School.
City and state police and the NationalGuard again planned to patrol the desertedWilkes-Barre streets overnight after fourlooters were arrested between Thursday andFriday, Leighton said.
After Leighton addressed the media, Wil-kes-Barre Operations Director Butch Fratiled a group of city officials along the riverFriday afternoon. The contingent surveyedwater gurgling from soaked earth near aRiverside Drive pumping station, and assis-
tant city attorney Bill Vinsko ventured tothe top of the levee to watch storm waterrush from a manhole at a pumping stationnear Barney Farms.
“Another ‘remember when’ moment,”said Vinsko, who lives in Barney Farms.Workers placed sandbags over a leak in alevee gate near the Black Diamond Bridgeon Thursday night, said city spokesmanDrew McLaughlin.
Though a steady flow trickled from underthe gate Friday, the volume and the velocityof the leak had decreased considerably, cityofficials said.
By late Friday afternoon, Frati and hisgroup reached the Market Street Bridge,where water continued to spurt from gaps inthe flood gate and fill the street by the Hotel
Sterling. While the flooding stretched up anddown River Street, Frati said it was a muchmore welcome scene than the “torrid” waterthat swamped River Street from Union toNorthampton streets Thursday.
While Leighton said he was confident thelevee system would hold, a more immediateproblem arose when Laurel Run and Millcreeks clogged Brookside streets when over-whelmed flood pumps couldn’t sustain thecreeks’ flow into the swollen river.
A steady hum echoed through the streetsas pumps spewed water from several floodedhomes on North Pennsylvania Avenue. Sodacans, coffee cups and other debris washeddown Weir Street toward a stop sign sub-merged in up to 5 feet of water.
Kurt Kwak, who owns a home and law
firm at the corner of Weir Street and NorthPennsylvania Avenue, pumped water from afully saturated basement Friday afternoon.He avoided further flooding to the home thathas been in his family for 100 years, he said.
“My only concern was my grandparents’antique furniture that I have in the office,”he said.
Up the street, two girls donned waders tooffer PPL employees water and sandwiches,while Ted Ritsick of Mill Street walkeddown North Pennsylvania Avenue to surveythe water that had collected in backyards.
Ritsick had never seen anything like it.“This is something,” he said.
[email protected], 570-821-2052
[email protected], 570-821-2054
ASSESSMENT // WILKES-BARRE
MICHAEL R. SISAK / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
Unprecedented dangerFloodwaters rageas officials admonishresidents to keep out
WILKES-BARRE: A view of the river looking southinto the bend at Riverside Drive.
WILKES-BARRE: Firefighters and a utility workerboat down Weir Lane in the Hollenback section.
MARK MORAN / THE CITIZENS’ VOICEDAVE SCHERBENCO / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
6–
THE
CIT
IZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATU
RD
AY,S
EPTE
MB
ER10,
2011
ASSESSMENT // ‘WE GOT CLOBBERED’
Water, mud saturateWest Pittston streetsBy Michael R. Sisak and Bob KalinowskiStaff Writers
Amid the hum of generators and sumppumps, a large swath of West Pittstonremained with power though inundatedwith water Friday.
At least 350 properties in the riversidecommunity sustained water damage fromthe record flood, including some homeswith water invading second floors, bor-ough officials said.
For many property owners, the over-whelming damage was unexpected — theirhomes hadn’t even taken on an inch ofwater during the 1972 Agnes flood.
U.S. Sens. Bob Casey, a Democrat, andPat Toomey, a Republican, toured the flood-ravaged borough on Friday morning,speaking with displaced residents and get-ting a close-up view of damage.
“This is worse than 1972,” said MayorTony Denisco, whose son’s house hadwater rise 6 inches from the second floor. “Idon’t think anyone thought it was going tobe like this.”
Dozens of homes remained unreachableexcept by boat Friday and Denisco saidthey likely would remain isolated until atleast 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Dan Grabowski, 26, said he went by boatto check on his parent’s house on York Ave-nue. Several feet of water remained on thefirst floor.
“We tried to push open the door, but youcouldn’t open it because of the water,”Grabowski said.
He envisioned long days ahead.“It’s going to be a long cleanup,”
Grabowski said. “This mud is disgusting.”When approached by a reporter, one
man returning on a boat said, “I reallydon’t have anything to say. It’s horrible.”
Borough officials said at least threeproperties have significant structural dam-age.
On Susquehanna Avenue, Walt Kuhar-chick, 71, power-washed his house, whichtook on 3 feet of water on the first floor.
“We got clobbered,” Kuharchick said.His 1885 Colonial home, filled with
antique furniture, was supposed to be ondisplay for a tour next Saturday for afundraiser by the West Pittston HistoricalSociety.
Kuharchik said the river across thestreet didn’t even come close to toppingthe road’s edge in 1972. Still, he heededthe pre-flood warnings and got every-thing in his basement and first floor outof harm’s way. He was not sure if he wasgoing to clear out the first floor untilwater started to rise quickly on Thursday.By the time his basement was emptied,
water was rushing inside it.“I said, ‘Wait a minute, we’re in trouble,”
Kuharchik said.By that time, the first floor was emptied
out by the 4 p.m. evacuation order, 3 feet ofwater lined his front yard and friends car-ried him to safety.
“We ran out of time,” Kuharchik said.During their visit Friday, Casey and
Toomey talked with residents at the cor-ner of Montgomery and Wyoming ave-nues, the veritable dividing line in thecommunity between dry pavement andsubmerged earth.
They visited a nearby National Guardarmory — where floodwaters swallowed atank and most of the first floor — and theEighth Street Bridge, spanning theSusquehanna River from Wyoming Bor-ough to Jenkins Township.
“It’s substantial, substantial damage ina lot of communities,” Casey said, stand-ing with Toomey in front of a submergedsection of Wyoming Avenue.
The senators said they would worktogether with the state’s House delegationto secure federal relief. President BarackObama signed an emergency declarationearly Friday clearing the way for federal
funding to repair damage and preventfuture flooding.
They said they had already been in con-tact with Gov. Tom Corbett and officialswith the Federal Emergency ManagementAgency. They were joined on the tour bycounty and local officials.
“We’ve got to stay at this, day after day,week after week to make sure that folksget the help they need and to make surethat we continue to work together,” Caseysaid.
The borough needs help, Denisco said.“We’re a small community, we have
4,800 people, we have some resources butnot enough to combat this,” Denisco said.“The people of West Pittston are good peo-ple and we will fight back.”
About 1,200 residents remained withoutpower by Friday night, the mayor said.
Carolyn White, confined to a motorizedchair and accompanied by her 215-poundGreat Dane named Jet, told Casey she hadat least 2 feet of water in her home onLacoe Street, about two blocks from theriver.
“It pretty much destroyed everything inthe backyard, the basement, the brandnew furnace and everything that was putin — that’s all destroyed,” White’s son,Bob, said.
Bob anticipated the flooding wouldclaim most of his mother’s furniture, herpiano, stove and dishwasher and possiblya handicapped ramp that aids her egressfrom the home.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,”Carolyn lamented.
By Elizabeth SkrapitsStaff Writer
SHICKSHINNY — Eddie Whitesell sat on a fold-ing chair on Spruce Street, watching the muddy,swollen Susquehanna River just yards away swirlaround his house up to the second floor.
“It moved so fast,” he said. “I only had a littlepickup truck. I had to take out what I could.”
Like most residents in the one-traffic-light town,Whitesell didn’t expect the Susquehanna River torise so quickly, or rise higher than the 1972 Tropi-cal Storm Agnes flood. The resulting flood blockedmost roads into town, including U.S. Route 11, anddamaged at least 75 percent of the borough andabout 150 homes, Mayor Beverly Moore estimated.
About 20 people and five dogs were rescued byboat Tuesday, Shickshinny Fire Chief Kevin Mor-ris said.
Hardest hit were Susquehanna Avenue,McClintock Street and Canal Street, where waterreached the second floor of many houses, includ-ing Whitesell’s. He said he only had about 2 feet ofwater on the first floor during the September 2004and June 2006 floods.
“This is worse than ’72,” said Charlie Noss, whowas hanging out with family members in front ofhis house on Route 11.
“I think a lot of people know that by now,” saidMelvin Hess, whose North Canal Street house wascompletely flooded.
The intersection of Route 11 and Union Street,Shickshinny’s business center was inundated, withwater above the doors of the Wells Fargo bank and
Fast-movingflood surprisedShickshinnyresidents
WEST PITTSTON: Army National Guard members res-cue some residents from their homes Friday. At least350 properties reported damage from the flood.
RALPH FRANCELLO / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
SHICKSHINNY: Eddie Whitesell sitson Spruce Street in front of his house,which is completely engulfed by theSusquehanna River. He didn’t expect thewater to come up so quickly or so high.
ELIZABETH SKRAPITS / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
SEE SHICKSHINNY, PAGE 36SEE WEST PITTSTON, PAGE 36
‘We’re a small community, wehave 4,800 people, we have
some resources but not enoughto combat this.’
TONY DENISCOWest Pittston mayor
THE
CITIZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATUR
DAY,
SEPTEM
BER
10
,20
11
–7
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOWEVACUATIONS
UTILITIES
ROADS & BRIDGES
EMERGENCY SHELTERS
• Dallas Middle School, 570-417-6086• GAR High School in Wilkes-Barre wasat capacity Friday.• Hanover Area High School, 570-760-0614 or 570-831-2300• Lake-Lehman High School, 570-591-2052, 570-760-8944, 570-690-4109• Luzerne County Community College inNanticoke, 570-591-2052• Northwest Area High School• Misericordia University in Dallas, 570-332-2937• Pittston Area High School, 570-817-0885• Plymouth Twp. Municipal Building, 925W. Main St., Plymouth Twp.
• Solomon/Plains Junior High School,570-826-7222• State Street Elementary School inLarksville was at capacity Friday.• West Side CTC, 75 Evans St. Pringle.• Wyoming Area Secondary School inWyoming, 570-814-8780
Special info: For shelters at capacity,the American Red Cross asks that resi-dents try to go to a different location.Pets are allowed in the shelter. Pets mustbe in a kennel and they must be up todate on shots. Residents are asked tobring proof of shots and food for pets.For additional information, call the Ameri-can Red Cross at 570-823-716
Power and natural gas have been shutoff to nearly 2,200 customers in LuzerneCounty, nearly 1,400 in West Pittston.
PPL advises customers to arrange forelectrical inspections at their propertiesprior to power being restored.
Natural gas service has been shut off toabout 1,700 in the Wilkes-Barre area.
UGI
Customers whose natural gas service isaffected by severe flooding are asked tocall UGI Penn Natural Gas at 1-800-276-2722. Submerged gas meters or regula-tors must be turned off and inspectedby qualified utility personnel before servicecan be restored. Under no circumstancesshould a customer attempt to turn the gasback on themselves, a UGI spokesmanadvised. UGI personnel will restore eachindividual gas service and relight pilots tofunctioning equipment when it is safe todo so.
PPL
PPL advises customers to reportoutages and other power emergencies, in-cluding downed power lines, immediatelyby calling 1-800-DIAL-PPL (1-800-342-5775). When prompted, press 1 for “elec-trical emergency.” PPL warns customers tostay clear of electrical equipment wherethere is standing water, such as a base-ment.
A mandatory evacuation remains in effective for residents of a 22-mile swath fromExeter to Shickshinny. While the Susquehanna River slowly recedes from its record42.66-foot rise, officials warn residents and curious onlookers to remain out of areasin the flood plain. The record-high level has “incredibly stressed” the levee system,officials said Friday.
ASSESSMENT // IMPORTANT CONTACT INFO, ADVICEood
YOU CAN HELP
The Wyoming Valley Chapter of theAmerican Red Cross is asking fordonations to help with the costs toshelter the Wyoming Valley’s displacedresidents.To donate: Write checks to the Wyo-ming Valley Chapter of the American RedCross at 256 N. Sherman St., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18702.
PennDOT advises all drivers in flood-af-fected areas to avoid traveling unlessabsolutely necessary. Floodwaters pre-vent drivers from seeing if a roadway iscompromised, and can be deeper thanthey appear. Potholes and sinkholes canalso develop due to the weight of thewater.
BRIDGESThe Cross Valley Expressway and Carey
Avenue bridges remained late Friday theonly two bridges connecting the east andwest side in the Greater Wyoming Valley.
ROAD CLOSURES
• State Route 29 between Exit 3 (Nan-ticoke) and Exit 2 (Wilkes Barre/Alden)• Conyngham: State Route 239 be-tween State Route 3036/80 in Nesco-peck and US 11• Duryea: State Route 2006 (MainStreet) between Phoenix Street andStephenson Street• Fairmount Township: State Route4013 (Mossville Road) at the intersec-tion of Bethel Hill Rd in Fairmount tothe intersection of State Route 118;State Route 4015 (Bethel Hill Road)between Mossville Road and Johnson/Talcott Hill Road• Hanover Township: State Route2001 (Ashley Street/St. Mary’s Road)between West Cemetery Street in Ash-ley and Main Street; State Route 2002East (Main Street/Sans Souci Parkway)between Kosciuszko Avenue/JefkinStreet in Nanticoke and Trailer ParkRoad• Hunlock Creek: State Route 4016(Main Road/Hunlock-Harveyville Road)between Sorbertown Hill Road andHartmen Road to Reyburn Road; StateRoute 11 South between the intersec-tions from 4016/0260 SH in Hunlockto Columbia County (19)• Jenkins Township: State Route2004 (River Street/Main Street/CareyAve) between Carey Street in Plainsand Thompson Street• Kingston: State Route 1029 (ManorDrive/Dug Road/North Street) betweenHighland Avenue and Mapleleaf Road• Lehman Township: State Route 29between US 11 North and HartmanRoad• Nanticoke: State Route 2002 West(Main Street/ Sans Souci Parkway) atthe intersections of Dundee Road inHanover to the intersection of MarketStreet/Main Street; State Route 2002
West (Main Street/Sans Souci Park-way) between the intersection of TrailerPark Road in Hanover and MarketStreet/Main Street• Nescopeck: State Route 93 betweenMiner Street and Broad Street; StateRoute 339 between Smith Hollow Roadin Mifflin and Broad Street; State Route3015 (Broad Street/Black Street) be-tween West Zenith and Broad Street• Newport Township: State Route3004 (Main Street/Newport Street/Kirmar Avenue) between Main Street/Pond Hill Road in Conyngham andGruver Street/Alden Mountain Road• Noxen: State Route 415 betweenLake Drive in Harvey’s Lake and StateRoute 29• Pittston: State Route 2019 (Colum-bus Avenue/Oak Street/Tedrick Street);State Route 2024 (Main Street/MaffettStreet) between James Musto BP inJenkins and Tedrick Street/YatesvilleRoad• Plains Township: State Route2004 (Main Street/Carey Avenue) be-tween Haines Street and Poplar Street.• Salem Township: State Route 4004(West Butler Street/Shickshinney Val-ley Road) between Saw Mill Road andCarson Lane• Shickshinny: State Route 11 Northis closed between the intersections ofWalnut St in Berwick to the intersec-tions of 239/188• Slocum Township: State Route3008 (Ruckle Hill Road/BlytheburnRoad) between Miner Street in Conyn-gham and Schmids Road• West Pittston: State Route 11between Spruce Street in Salem andSusquehanna Avenue• Wilkes-Barre: State Route 1009(Market Street) between SR 11 (Wyo-ming Ave) in Kingston and River Street/Market Street• Wyoming: State Route 1021 (8thStreet Bridge).
CLEANUP TIPS
• Clean and disinfect washable surfacesthat have come in contact with floodwa-ters. Wash with soap and water; thendisinfect with a mixture of householdbleach and water – one and a quarter-cup of bleach per gallon of water if flood-waters come from sewers and aquarter-cup of bleach to a gallon of waterif floodwaters aren’t tainted by sewage.• Never mix household bleach with am-monia or any other cleaner. Wear rubberboots, rubber gloves and eye protectionwhen disinfecting surfaces and try not tobreathe bleach fumes.• Discard upholstered furniture, mat-tresses, bedding and stuffed toys soakedin floodwaters.• Soaked and soiled carpeting shouldalso be discarded. If you try to salvagecarpeting, dry it out and then shampoo itwith a commercial rug cleaner.• Clean, dry and check your furnace,water heater, washer, dryer and other ap-pliances before using them. Don’t handleelectrical equipment in wet areas.Call a plumber or an electrician, if needed.• To remove odors from refrigerators andfreezers, use warm water with a detergentand wipe dry. If an odor persists, try asolution of one teaspoon of baking sodaor one cup of household ammonia pergallon of water.• Throw away foods that have come incontact with floodwaters.
8–
THE
CIT
IZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATU
RD
AY,S
EPTE
MB
ER10,
2011
By Denis J. O’MalleyStaff Writer
DURYEA — Lois Watersthought the dikes along theLackawanna River would keepher home safe.
So did Dave Curtis.So did John Coyne.But like hundreds of their
neighbors along the Lackawan-na River, the dikes did not mat-ter Thursday.
“They wouldn’t sell us floodinsurance so now what doeseverybody do?” said Waters,whose home at 511 Watt St.backs up to the dikes.
Fear and pain were wide-spread here Friday. DuryeaMayor Keith Moss estimatedabout 400 residents have beenevacuated from the boroughand about 35 homes on CoxtonRoad alone have been affected.
“We’re still pumping ourMain Street,” he said. “We stillhave water across our MainStreet.”
After the Lower LackawannaValley Sanitary Authority onCoxton Road went underwaterThursday, the sewage and wastewater of the six municipalitiesthe authority serves beganbacking up into the river andinto homes in Duryea, the laststop on the authority’s drain-age pipeline, said Tom McDer-mott, executive director of theauthority.
When the surging Susque-hanna began backing up intothe Lackawanna where the tworivers meet late Thursday andstarted seeping water into thestreets, Coyne did what hecould to raise appliances offthe ground in his basement at51 S. Main St. before he evacu-ated.
“You could replace that,”Coyne said Friday, standing atthe floodwater’s edge on SouthMain Street, about 200 feet fromhis home surrounded by 5 feetof water. “It’s all the memoriesand stuff that you can’t replace.We didn’t get that out.”
Curtis did not have floodinsurance on his home at 109-111 Dickson St., about half ablock away from the dikesbehind Watt Street.
“It never seemed to be a prob-lem,” he said.
And it was not a problem forthe first floor of the home, hesaid, which did not get a drop.
He found the problem below,through the 15-foot hole thefloodwaters broke through thefoundation of his home.
“The entire basement … Itfilled it all the way up to thefirst floor,” he said.
On Main Street, the most sig-nificant flooding in the boroughbegan in the area of the Ber-nard J. Piontek Funeral home.Across the street a Pontiacsedan sat half-submerged infloodwater.
When reports came in thatan individual was on a raft inthe floodwater, PennsylvaniaNational Guard Staff Sgt. Lar-ry Huffman drove his Humveeinto the waters and past thatcar to seek out the man.
Not long after, the GermaniaHose Company deployed a rap-id inflatable boat into the floodwaters and sailed about 500yards down Main Street to pickHuffman and a passenger upfrom the roof of the vehicle,which sat in about 6 feet ofwater.
J.J. Gorrick, a resident of the200 block of Main Street, saidhe saw the humvee heading forthe water, wondering why itwould drive down a decline intothe flood.
“All of a sudden it startedgoing sideways. It started float-ing,” Gorrick said.
When the boat returned tothe water’s edge with the twomen aboard, all Nancy Parrickwanted was for it turn aroundand bring her back the way itcame, to her home at 101 MainSt.
“(After Hurricane Agnes) Iwas in the house the next morn-ing. We cut through the woodsand went right in,” said Par-rick, who begrudgingly evacu-ated her home Thursday night.
As the rescue concluded,Germania Hose Co. Firefighter
Mike Wall’s feelings on theflood could not have been anyfarther from Parrick’s.
“I don’t think people under-stand there’s a disaster here,”Wall said. “People need to stopcoming to town.”
ASSESSMENT // UNPRECEDENTED DAMAGE
WARREN RUDA / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
Residents of Plainsville lost their bet withthe Susquehanna River.
Fire officials said Friday that homeown-ers in that area were inundated with waterin their basements and first floors. The firedepartment also lost a fire truck that wasstationed in case an emergency occurredduring a flood.
The area typically becomes an islandwhen the river floods, so many residentsstay when such situations occur, officialssaid.
The waters along River Street were reced-ing Friday, although many homes and busi-nesses were still partially submerged. Thewaters ranged along and over River Streetfrom Courtright Street past the EighthStreet Bridge and into Jenkins Township,taking over businesses like Randu’s South-ern and Open Pit Barbeque, according toresidents.
Police reopened River Street from HainesPlace to Gallagher Street during the after-noon.
The waters had risen past businesses likeAdvanced Pain Management Specialists andthe Cross Valley Medical Building.
The convenience store where Tom Selem-ba works on River Street was untouched,but he was very concerned about his homeon Wyoming Avenue in Kingston.
“The owners here have a direct line toGod,” he said. “But I’m a nervous wreck.”
— Kristen Gaydos
The Honey Pot section of Nanticoke tookon island status Thursday night into Fridayas rising water from Forge Creek combinedwith the Susquehanna River to surroundthe elevated area.
The point where North Market Street andAccess Road meet took on heavy water, asdid the area where River Street meets Gar-field Street.
As of Friday night, residents had accessto the area via Garfield Street through Whit-ney Points property.
“We’re certainly not used to this kind offlooding in this area,” Nanticoke Mayor JoeDougherty said. “Both the creek and rivercontributed to this and as soon as the watergoes down, all the roads will open back up.That might be Sunday, but we just have tosee how it goes.”
According to Dougherty, between 700 and800 people live in Honey Pot. Only one homeat the bottom of River Street was affected asit took on water in its basement.
A regulator station flooded Friday, affect-ing gas service to 100 customers, accordingto UGI spokesman Donald Brominski.
“We are in the process of shutting off gasto the station with valves,” he said. “Whenthe water recedes and allows access, we willfix the station and restore service.”
— Jill Snowdon
Homes, businessesinundated in Plains
Creek, river leaveHoney Pot flooded
Duryea takes hard hit
WARREN RUDA / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
THE
CITIZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATUR
DAY,
SEPTEM
BER
10
,20
11
–9
ASSESSMENT // WAITING TO RETURN HOME; SEPARATING FACT FROM FICTION
Rumor hotline volunteers set record straightBy Andrew StaubStaff Writer
WILKES-BARRE — Daniel Leco picked up the phone lateThursday night and heard another tall tale: Banko’s Seafood inWest Nanticoke had collapsed amid the day’s flooding disaster.
Though the story wasn’t true, Leco and four other volunteersmanning the Luzerne County Emergency Management Agen-cy’s Rumor Control Hotline had already heard it seven timesbefore 11 p.m. So went the life of those tasked with sorting factfrom fiction as unfounded rumors of road closures, flood dam-age and levee breaches swirled faster than the rain-bloatedSusquehanna River swelled.
“Everything’s a rumor,” said Lucy Morgan, deputy directorof the agency. “The Cross Valley is closed. The dam broke inNew York and we’re all going to flood. The dam broke in FortyFort.”
All of that, of course, was false, and much of the responsibil-ity of setting the record straight during an already dangeroustime fell upon the shoulders of the Rumor Control Hotline.Tucked in a small room off the agency’s command center onWater Street, the team members monitored live televisionfeeds, kept a watch on the river level projections and answeredquestions from panicked callers.
Often the volunteers dispelled falsities such as the Banko’sSeafood story. Other times, they answered legitimate questionspertaining to whether power would be restored or where exactevacuation zones were located.
And with many of them having backgrounds in counselingprograms or other human services, the volunteers also calmlysoothed breathless and frantic callers, including a pregnantwoman who was having difficulty comprehending the need foran evacuation.
Pennsylvania developed the concept of the Rumor Con-trol Hotline decades ago to help provide accurate informa-tion about nuclear events, severe weather threats and high-way problems such as the 50-mile tie-up on Interstate 78 in2007, said Steve Bekanich, the county’s EMA coordinator.The hotline — 1-800-821-3716 — helps prevent normal emer-gency lines from being clogged with unnecessary questions
and concerns, Bekanich said.Volunteers at the command center also logged as many
rumors as they could, helping officials track trends and decidewhen they needed to publicly address misleading information.
“We can say, ‘Listen, we’re hearing a multitude of the samerumor. We can assure you this isn’t occurring,’” Bekanich said.
On Thursday, calls hit the hotline at a frenetic pace rangingfrom 30 to more than 100 calls an hour, said Kathy Dobash, oneof the volunteers.
“Sometimes, you get a call a minute,” she said.A frequent topic late Thursday included stories that the levee
at Forty Fort had given way. In reality, a 200-foot section of thelevee had to be fortified with 2,000 tons of rock when floodwa-ters soaked the ground.
In another instance, someone called volunteer LorraineSmith to say military personnel had denied a nurse entrance tothe Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. Smith consulted with theliaison from the Pennsylvania National Guard at the commandcenter in hopes of rectifying the problem.
Other calls made much less sense, given the situation. Oneman called Leco to ask if NBC would bump its broadcast ofthe NFL season opener for flood coverage. When Leco saidhe wasn’t sure, the caller asked if there was an NBC repre-sentative in the command center.
“Not that I can find,” Leco responded.In most cases, accurate information helped alleviate
rumors and calm residents, Morgan said.“But,” she said, “I think there are still a lot of doubting
Thomases that need to see to believe.”’To contact the hotline, call 1-800-821-3716.
[email protected], 570-821-2052
Evacuees eager to return home
By Tom BrolleyStaff Writer
Tom Benson, the American Red Cross shelter managerat GAR High School, heard the same question many timesFriday: When can we go home?
“We don’t know yet, we’re waiting here too,” Bensonsaid. “But Mr. Sunshine is coming out and that’s the bestthing. The faster the sun comes out, the faster everythingdries up.”
Friday’s sun did its best to help the Susquehanna Riverrecede. It crested at a record level of 42.66 feet early Fridaymorning. The rain finally stopped and the sun came backfor the first time on Thursday afternoon. The sun contin-ued to shine Friday afternoon and perhaps gave displacedresidents a false sense of safety after the crest.
The river levels gradually dipped Friday afternoon, butdisplaced residents are still advised to stay in shelters untilthe mandatory evacuations are lifted.
Gary Van Scoy, Red Cross shelter manager at State StreetElementary School in Larksville, said the earliest the evac-uations can be lifted is when the river falls below 30 feet, asset by Luzerne County commissioners.
River projections estimated the waters could dip below30 feet by late Saturday afternoon. Until the evacuation islifted, 11 Wyoming Valley Red Cross shelters will continueto host displaced residents. An estimated 1,500 to 2,000 Wyo-ming Valley residents stayed in shelters Thursday night,said Brian Wrightson, director of emergency services forNortheastern and North Central Pennsylvania. The StateStreet shelter housed its capacity of about 300 people.
A few displaced residents at the State Street shelter leftFriday and headed back to their homes in evacuated areas.Gov. Tom Corbett toured the Wyoming Valley on Fridayand sternly warned residents to stay out of evacuatedareas.
Van Scoy said the Red Cross can’t do much to stop peoplefrom the leaving the shelters before evacuation orders arelifted.
“We try to remind them there’s still lots of flood waterand we advise them of the dangers,” Van Scoy said. “Wealso warned them that they could be arrested. We’d ratherthem be here than somewhere else but we can’t hold themagainst their will.”
The GAR shelter also reached its capacity at 356 people.The Solomon/Plains Junior High School saw only 86 peopleon Thursday night but volunteers were ready Friday formore residents after the Brookside section of Wilkes-Barrewas evacuated.
Benson and Linda Urban, Red Cross shelter manager atSolomon/Plains, did not have problems with displaced resi-dents leaving early and heading back to evacuated areas.
“They’re just getting a little rambunctious,” Urban said.“For the most part people are pretty conscious about thedangers.”
The three managers said no major disturbances occurredat the shelters through Friday afternoon.
Benson said the GAR shelter had minor problems withchildren, as a few kids got lost inside the school.
Stanton Lanes offered kids and their parents free bowl-ing on Friday afternoon to distract the cooped-up children.
“Kids will be kids. So what can you do,” Benson said.“We need parents to watch their kids. We’re not here tobabysit. We can’t keep an eye on the kids, we have to runthe shelter.”
KRISTEN MULLEN / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
WILKES-BARRE: Armyveteran Nicholas B.Borowitz sips a coffeeas people queue upto receive food at theGAR High School shel-ter location Thursday.
Some leave shelters beforeofficials lift evacuation orders
‘… I think there are still a lot of doubtingThomases that need to see to believe.’
LUCY MORGANDeputy director of the Luzerne County Emergency
Management Agency
10–
THE
CIT
IZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATU
RD
AY,S
EPTE
MB
ER10,
2011
ASSESSMENT // PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP
No strangers to floodsBy Michael P. BufferStaff Writer
PLYMOUTH TWP. — Theunprecedented expansion ofthe Susquehanna River flood-ed more than 65 homes and20 businesses in the WestNanticoke section of Plym-outh Township, Deputy FireChief Barry Lore said Fri-day.
About 2.5 square miles ofthe township were underwater, Lore said. State policeand fire department employ-ees used boats to patrol WestNanticoke. About 275 peopleleft their homes, but morethan 50 stayed, Lore said.Some had boats floating out-side their homes.
“We are systematicallychecking on the people whorefuse to leave,” Lore said.“We are taking water tosome. Most are self-sustain-
ing. They stocked up on sup-plies.”
West Nanticoke residentsare experienced with floods,Lore said. The last majorflood was in 2006. The highwater mark from this floodwas 200 yards farther upRoute 29 than the 2006 mark,Lore said.
Flood water reached the
first floor of three homes thatwere elevated with federalassistance to deal with flood-ing, Lore said. Those homeswere raised to be safe from aflood that compared to the1972 Agnes flood, Lore said.
“The water devastation isequal if not more than 1972,”Lore said.
Fuel oil from flooded base-ments leaked into the river,and the smell was still strongas the river was receding Fri-day afternoon. JJ Banko’sSeafood and the FlamingoDiner on Route 11 wereamong the businesses flood-ed.
Mike Traher, 27, said his
father’s house was the lasthome on Route 29 to be flood-ed this time and in 1972. Thefirst floor was filled with 5inches of water Friday and18 inches in 1972, Trahersaid.
State police Cpl. John Yen-cha and Capt. Joe Parsnicktook a boat to investigate areport of suspected looters,but no one was found.
[email protected], 570-821-2073
MICHAEL P. BUFFER / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
People gather Friday along Route 29 nearPoplar Street in Plymouth Township.
‘The water devastationis equal if not more
than 1972.’BARRY LORE
Deputy fire chief
Derman Associates, LLC
PPhhone: 570-one: 570-392-392-19301930E-mail: inE-mail: info@[email protected]
Design Building & Home Renovations servingNortheastern and Central Pennsylvania
*All inclusive vacation includes free golf, transportation to and from the airport,unlimited food & drinks, unlimited beer and liquor and much more…
Some restrictions do apply. Call for details.
FreeFree All-Inclusive* Caribbean Vacation for 2 withany signed agreement prior to October 31, 2011
CuCustom Home Bustom Home Buildeilders & Rers & Remodemodelelersrs
CContractontractor #: PA076271or #: PA076271
FLFLOOD CLEANUP AND REMODELINOOD CLEANUP AND REMODELING!!!G!!!
NOW TAKINGRESERVATIONSFOR GROUP HAYRIDES &PUMPKIN PATCH RIDES
(Pick Your Own Tomatoes)
DYMONDS FARM675-1696 333-5011
POOLSPRICEDLOW.COMEND OF SEASON SPECIALS
16’x32’ In GroundComplete
$17,19924’ Above GroundRound Complete
$2,999262-5386
829-0239
We offer the BEST Prices in Town!
NO PAYMENT UNTIL JOB IS 100% COMPLETEWE ALSO DO FLAT & RUBBER ROOFS
Call Now For Free Estimates!LICENSED & INSURED
GILROY CONSTRUCTION
NEED A NEW ROOF?
BUYINGBUYINGJUNKJUNK
VEHICLESVEHICLES
570-760-2035
$300 & UP$125 Extra If Driven,
Dragged orPulled In!
HAPPY TRAILS TRUCK SALES
Top Dollar Paid ForHeavy Equipment$$ $$
$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
570-542-2277
If you’re notselling your JunkVehicle or Heavy
Equipment toHappy Trails, your
losing money!
6 am – 9 pm
HAPPY TRAILS
Licensed & InsuredOver 24 Yrs. Exp.
NEEDNEEDA NEWA NEWROOF?ROOF?735-2538FREE Estimates
LOWEST PRICES, GUARANTEED!!
MATTRESS GUYGateway Shopping Center
Edwardsville288-1898
FREEFINANCING
Twin Sets - $159Full Sets - $179
Queen Sets - $199
MATTRESSSALE!
POOL CLOSINGS& INSTALLATIONS
16x32 installed withstamped concrete
$17,900(570) 655-7689
WET BASEMENT???Diverting Water,
Foundation Wall DrainingSump Pumps
Basement Remodelings(570) 655-7689
Roy or Vince466-0879
Voted #1 Masonry Contractor
Brick • Block • ConcreteStone • Chimney & Stucco RepairRetaining Walls • Patio & Pavers
Fully InsuredWorkmanship Guaranteed
rrs TMNow Accepting
And All of Luzerne, Lackawanna &Monroe Counties PA 039701
www.oldtimemasonry.com
FINANCINGAS LOW AS
4.99% APR
NCMA CertifiedRetaining Wall Installer
ALL JUNK CARS &TRUCKS WANTEDHIGHE$T PRICE$ PAIDFree Removal. Call AnytimeV&G 570-574-1275
VITO’S AUTO SALVAGE & EXCAVATINGCLEAN UP & REMOVAL
Call Joe:
510-3509— AVAILABLE FOR HIRE —
• EXCAVATING AND LOADER SERVICE• ROLLBACKS AND DUMPSTERS
• WATER REMOVAL
BUSINESS & HOME CLEAN-OUTSALSO PURCHASING ANY FLOOD SALVAGE
VEHICLES, EQUIPMENT OR MACHINERY
$ CASH PAID $
WYOMING VALLEY LANDSCAPING & MASONRY
287-4144LICENSED & INSURED • ALL WORK GUARANTEED
GuaranteedGuaranteedLowestLowestPricesPriceswww.wvlandscaping.com
Over 30 Years Of Experience
“All Estimates Given In 2 Days”
PA. 066987
Stamped and Stained Concrete, Pavers, Flagstone,All Types of Retaining Walls, Excavation, Drainage,
Custom Landscape DesignsReferences and Photos Upon Request
IN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION#1 Old Time PricingWith New AgeTechnology!
rrs TM
Walls, Pavers & Firepits
12–
THE
CIT
IZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATU
RD
AY,S
EPTE
MB
ER10,
2011
After the flood,a fuel-based mess
ASSESSMENT // COLOR-CODED DANGER
By Denis J. O’MalleyStaff Writer
The Susquehanna River’schocolate-colored waters con-tinued to rage along its teem-ing banks Friday, but thecocktail of floodwater, gasand oil they left behind inbordering neighborhoodsmay be the bigger problem.
“That’s not mine, thatfloated in here,” DoloresZabrowski said, pointing to afive-gallon gas can bobbingatop the muck that swallowedher property at 605 Watt St.,Duryea, from the dike alongthe Lackawanna Riverbehind her house nearly tothe sidewalk in the front.
Like the rest of her neigh-bors along Watt Street downto Stephenson Street, up toabout 6 feet of floodwater andwhatever liquid it touchedpooled in Zabrowski’s back-yard when the Susquehannabacked up into the Lackawa-nna where the two riversmeet nearby late Friday.
“It smells like oil,” shesaid.
And it looked like oil, evenwhere it had already reced-ed.
Never mind the backyardcesspools surfaced withcrusts of pale-brown foamemanating the unmistakableodor of any number of petro-leum-based liquids, the unc-tuous evidence was nowheremore obvious than on thesurface of recently recededstreets.
When the Germania HoseCompany’s pumping effortsrevealed the 400 block of WattStreet, the psychedelicstreaks of purple, turquoise,copper and green covered theasphalt in a slick sheen thatlooked more like the rem-nants of an oil spill than aflood.
But another color runningin the gutters from basement-pumping systems may havebeen the more significantone — red.
“I watched it just gushingout of the cellar windows,”said William Henning, chair-man of the MehoopanyTownship Board of Supervi-
sors, of the home-heatingfuel pouring from an apart-ment building’s cellar thatflooded Thursday. “The smellwas overpowering”
As in Duryea, uncount-able gallons of the dyed-redfuel streamed into floodwa-ters when they swallowedcellars in Mehoopany, Hen-ning said, and later as hom-eowners pumped out base-ments brimming with themixture.
“That home-heating fuelcould soak into the wood inthe walls, and it’s these littlekids I’m worried about,” hesaid.
Henning said his primaryconcern with regard tohome-heating fluid mixinginto floodwaters are the 15to 20 single- and multi-fami-ly homes — most of whichhe said are rented by youngfamilies — along a stretchof state Route 87 in Mehoo-pany.
“It was in dead water rightbetween two houses,” Hen-ning said.
Henning, who also servesas assistant chief of theF.W.M. Volunteer Fire Co. inMehoopany, said the odorswere so strong that one of his
firefighters began to sufferfrom throbbing headaches ashe worked to pull residentsfrom flooded homes onThursday.
The state departments ofHealth and EnvironmentalProtection issued a jointstatement Friday warningresidents of the health riskfloodwater poses.
Among those risks, gastro-intestinal disease and staphinfections could be caused bycontact with the floodwaterand, if residents intend tospend prolonged periods oftime inside flooded homes toclean them, the departmentsrecommended wearing N95masks available at home sup-ply stores.
Apart from immediatehealth risks though, Henningis concerned with the long-term health effects on resi-dents, especially children,who will be living in thosehomes now partially filledwith fuel-contaminated flood-water.
“These types of fumes, lit-tle kids are the ones that aregoing to pay the price for thisdown the road,” he said.
Look Who Is Turning
Love,Your
Family
60
MMaallaaccaarrii’’ssMMaallaaccaarrii’’ssMalacari’sPPRROODDUUCCEE && DDEELLIIPPRROODDUUCCEE && DDEELLIIPRODUCE & DELI
FR
UIT
VEG
ETA
BLE
SD
ELI
GROC
ERIE
S
(Near Home Depot)
ALL SALADS HOMEMADEPOTATO, COLE SLAW, MACARONI, TOMATO & CUCUMBER, RICE PUDDING, PICKLED EGGS & RED BEETS
Open 7 Days A Week 7am - 9pm80-82 Wilkes-Barre Township Blvd., Wilkes-Barre Twp. 570-822-2025PRICES EXP. 9/16/2011 WWW.MALACARIS.COM
Reg. Size Soft Serve Cones
99¢
ICE CREAMAll Large Sundaes$1.99
NEW FALL FLAVOR – PUMPKIN SPICE TWIST
ORDER NOW! CALL VITO FOR DETAILS!
DIRECT FROM CALIFORNIA’SLAMARUZZI & PANTALEO VINEYARDSAND ANGELO PAPAGNI VINEYARDS36# WINE GRAPES - PIA BRAND,
CALIFORNIA SPECIAL BRAND, TEASER BRAND, PAPAGNI BRAND6.0 GAL PAILS REGINA FRESH WINE JUICE
58 GAL. FRESH WINE JUICEMANY VARIETIES TO CHOOSE FROM ALSO WINE MAKING SUPPLIES AVAILABLE
GUARANTEED HIGHEST QUALITY AND LOWEST PRICES
LARGE ASST. OF BLVD. BAKERY PRODUCTS
All Loose Apples or Pears................................................$.99 lb.Lemons...............................................................................3/$1.00
American Cheese ..................................................................$2.99Cooper Cheese .....................................................................$3.99Muenster Cheese .................................................................$3.99Honey Ham ...........................................................................$3,99Smoked Ham ........................................................................$2.99Tavern Ham ...........................................................................$3.99Oven Roasted Turkey ...........................................................$3.99Chicken Breast ......................................................................$3.99Wunderbar Bologna ............................................................$2.99Pickle Loaf .............................................................................$2.99Roast Beef .............................................................................$3.99Sahlen’s Ham Off The Bone ................................................$3.99Cooked Ham .........................................................................$2.99Liverwurst ..............................................................................$2.99Kielbasi ..............................................................................$3.99 lb
(Made Locally by Great American Sausage Company)
Philly Style Pizza Shells..............................................2 for $1.99Murazzi Minute Steaks ......................................$4.99 (16oz Box)
COMING
SOON!
Iceburg Lettuce .........................................................................99¢Celery ..........................................................................................99¢Carrots ........................................................................69¢ (1lb Bag)Baby Carrots ...............................................................99¢(1lb Bag)Cabbage ......................................................................................39¢Homegrown Green Peppers ...............................................99¢ lbKirby Cukes ............................................................................99¢ lbHomegrown Tomatoes ........................................................99¢ lbWhite Potatoes .......................................$3.99 (10lb Bag) - WOWYellow Cooking Onions ........................................$1.49 (3 lb Bag)Yellow, Red, White, Jumbo Onions ....................................69¢ lbRed Peppers .......................................................................$1.49 lbGreen Onions .......................................................2 Bunches $1.00Jalapeno Peppers .................................................................99¢ lbAcorn - Butternut - Spaghetti Squash .....................99 Cents lbRutabagas ..............................................................................99¢ lbYams .......................................................................................59¢ lb
THE
CITIZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATUR
DAY,
SEPTEM
BER
10
,20
11
–13
ASSESSMENT // Widespread trouble
FROM PAGE 3A water-logged natural gas
drilling well stood outamongst the lush greeneryof the Endless Mountains. Itwas a good distance from theriver, apparently a victim ofa runaway creek.
Just as everywhere else,the river swelled throughoutFalls Township, but aboutthe only thing it over-whelmed was forest.
After clearing another ofthe river’s seemingly endlessseries of bends, the planeheaded toward Harding andWest Pittston.
The two bridges headinginto the latter were peril-ously close to the waves.Neighborhoods looked tra-versable by boat, while onthe other side of the river,the city of Pittston kept rela-tively dry.
From there, more munici-palities resembling thecanals of Venice.
The Eighth Street Bridgein Wyoming was partiallysubmerged, and in visibledisrepair.
The roof of the Redner’sWarehouse Market in
Edwardsville was now adeck.
And then, a respite fromthe damage, thanks to thegleaming white flood wallsalong the banks in Wilkes-Barre, holding on for dearlife, despite a historic crest.
S h i c k s h i n n y w a s adespairing stew of wall-to-wall water, and it was therethat the plane turned aroundand headed back to the air-port. We had seen enough forone day.
MICHAEL J. MULLEN / TIMES-SHAMROCK
The Susquehanna River lookingsouth toward Pittston on Friday.
View: Tourreveals scopeof damage
CONSTRUCTION CO.
ABOVE ALL THEBEST ROOF!
NATIONALAWARD WINNING
COMPANYSELECT
SHINGLE MASTER
PA012959
BELLES
824-7220
QualityDiamond JewelryAt Reasonable Prices...
Engagement Rings • Wedding Rings • Anniversary RingsDiamond Pendants • Diamond EarringsGemstone Jewelry • White Gold Jewelry
STEVE HYDOCK JEWELERS 150 South Wyoming Ave.(Across From Jack Williams) 283-065114
–TH
EC
ITIZ
ENS
’VO
ICE
SAT
UR
DAY
,S
EPTE
MB
ER10,
2011
ASSESSMENT // ADDED DANGERS
By Patrice WildingStaff Writer
Carpenter ants buildingnests in decaying wood.
Rats, raccoons, skunks andsnakes scrounging for foodand seeking shelter.
Fleas, ticks and mosquitoesseeking a blood meal and amoist place to lay eggs.
As weary evacuees pine toreturn to their homes, expertson pests and animal popula-tions warn that people are notthe only creatures displacedby floods.
“(Flooding) has created acouple things — standingwater and saturated ground.We as humans are totally dis-rupted by all this. The animalworld is in the same boat,”explained Greg Baumann,director of technical servicesfor Orkin Pest Control inAtlanta, Ga.
“Vertebrates like rodents,skunks, and wildlife, their liv-ing spaces may have beenflooded and their food sourcesmay have been eliminated.Trash cans are spilled over,and any time we provideadditional food, water, andplaces for them to live, it’sgoing to increase the activityfor these animals,” Baumannsaid.
“Maybe their dens areunderwater temporarily, andthey’re looking for additionalplaces to live.”
Baumann advised residentsto keep garages closed andensure trash is kept in tightlycovered containers, especiallysince some municipalitiesmay be unable to pick up
refuse until roadways havebeen cleared.
“Mice live 10 to 20 feet fromtheir food source, though ratscan be up to 50 feet away,” Bau-mann said, adding that“rodents that affect our hous-es are prolific breeders.”
After mating, rats are bornin a little over three weeks,with an average litter size ofsix, Baumann said. Theyreach adulthood and maybegin mating themselves infour to six weeks. Skunks, ratsand mice don’t hibernate, butdo “den” in protected areaslike decks and porches. Theinflux of wildlife also can
bring about problems withfleas, Baumann said.
“Traditionally, Septemberand (the beginning of) Octoberis flea season in your area,” heexplained. “Because these ani-mals are moving around, fleaeggs can fall off the animals(and be) dispersed through-out.”
Fleas need a blood meal andjust-hatched larvae wait forthis until they continue to thenext phase of maturation,Baumann said. Dogs, cats oreven people walking by arevulnerable to becoming hosts.
Ticks are also a concern,Baumann said.
“It’s important to thinkabout ticks because it’s stillgrowing season. A lot of grassgrows up real fast once thesun comes out, providing anice place to hide for ticks, so
keep grass trimmed,” hesaid.
“Many things can happen,(since) just by the sheer popu-lation you increase chances ofdisease transmission,” Bau-mann said. “If one out of 1,000ticks carry Lyme disease, andin an area where you usuallyhave, say, 1,000, you now have4,000, the chances are great-er.”
Flies also thrive in a post-flood environment, Baumannsaid.
“Some flies are going to feedon rodents who have drownedor been displaced,” he said.“Flies will lay eggs right onthe decaying animal. Soggywood creates the threat of car-penter ants until first frost.”
And then there are the mos-quitoes.
Roger Nasci, chief of thearboviral diseases branch ofthe Centers for Disease Con-trolandPreventioninAtlanta,agreed that the potential forincreased mosquito popula-tions is greater followingflooding.
“In a situation during thelate summer season when youhave flooding or heavy rain-
falls that produce standingwater, you will get more mos-quitoes produced. I thinkthat’s pretty much guaran-teed,” Nasci said.
Female mosquitoes take ablood meal, digest it, and usethe proteins to make eggs,Nasci explained. The femalesare able to detect flood plains,and lay their eggs in thoseplaces. The eggs remain dor-mant in the soil for long peri-ods of time — possibly years— until it floods, and theembryos hatch.
More mosquitoes doesn’talways mean more disease,Nasci said.
“There’s about 150 differ-ent species (of mosquitoes) inthe United States, and eachone is ecologically different.Only a handful are potentialdisease vectors,” Nasci said.“West Nile (virus) season iswinding down. Outbreaksthat occur are pretty sporad-ic, and so far in Pennsylvania,we’ve only had one West Nilereported this year. Activity ispretty low, so general risk islow.”
Floodwaters plagued with vermin
By Erin L. NissleyStaff Writer
Floodwater may be reced-ing, but the contaminants itcarries and the mold it leavesbehind can continue to causeproblems in the coming daysand weeks, experts said Fri-day.
Around the region, 12 sew-age treatment plants wereaffected by the floods, accord-ing to state Department ofEnvironmental Protectionspokeswoman Katy Gresh.Chief amongDEP’sconcernsis raw sewage, microbes andchemicals from those facili-ties leaking into floodwater,she said.
Floodwater, rivers andstreams contaminated withraw sewage can carry a num-ber of dangerous microor-
ganisms like E. coli and sal-monella, said KelloggSchwab, Ph.D., a professor ofenvironmental health sci-ences at Johns Hopkins’Bloomberg School of PublicHealth. Highly contagiousnorovirus, a type of stomachflu, can also be carriedthrough sewage-taintedwater, he said.
The average healthy adultwho comes into contact withcontaminations will suffer about of gastrointestinal dis-tress, including diarrhea,stomach pain and vomiting,Kellogg said.
But when the elderly andthe very young are exposed,“it could be very serious andpossibly fatal,” Kellogg said.He recommended frequenthand washing and shower-ing after coming into contact
with floodwater.Also possibly contaminat-
ing floodwater are toxins andchemicals from submergedindustrial sites, according tostate Department of PublicHealth officials.
To avoid getting sick, peo-ple should stay out of flood-water, said infectious diseaseexpert Stephen Pancoast,M.D. If you are exposed tofloodwater, avoid ingestingwater and shower as soon aspossible, using soap and aclean water source, expertssaid.
People with open woundsor scratches should cover theinjury so it does not comeinto contact with floodwaterto avoid infection, publichealth officials said.
Mold could cause health problems
Your Best Choice For Affordable Financial Services
EqualOpportunityLENDER
Main Office101 Hazle St.Wilkes-BarrePhone: (570) 823-7676
Plains OfficeWaterfront Complex672 N. River St., PlainsPhone: (570) 823-7676
Hazleton Office983 N. Sherman Ct.HazletonPhone: (570) 454-0081
If you have an auto loan somewhere else, you may be eligible for a1% rate reduction with Choice One, plus you’ll receive an additional.75% off your rate for taking advantage of the select services.
OPEN A NEW FREECHECKING ACCOUNTWITH A DEBIT CARD AND SET UP
DIRECT DEPOSIT AND WE’LLDEPOSIT $25 IN YOUR ACCOUNT!
Get The Buying Power of aChoice One Visa Card Today…
Transfer A Balance From AnotherFinancial Institution And Save Instantly!
No Balance Transfer Fees & Rate Is Until Paid Off
Rates As Low As
6.99% APR*
Car Loan SpecialsReduce Your Car Loan Rate
Up To
1.75%
Home EquityLine of CreditBorrow up to $75,000 with a
repayment term of up to 20 yearsAdjustable Rate. Full Appraisal Required
Fixed Rate Home Equity Loans
Rate As Low As 2.99%**APR*
58-month termChoice One will also pay yourAppraisal Fee – a $200 value!
Personal Loans
As Low As 2.74% APR**
18-Month Term Maximum Loan Amount $3,500
Apply at www.choiceone.org
**APR= ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE. Rates subject to change without prior notice. Rates shown to qualified borrowers. New money only. Rates reflect enrollment in all of our convenient services, including Direct deposit, virtual branch, VISA Check Card, e-statements and bill payer andenrollment in your new or refinanced loan in Auto pay, you can reduce your rate by a total of .75% Contact the credit union for complete details. *This is an introductory rate that is effect until June 30, 2011. At the end of the introductory rate term, the rate will convert to the Prime rate. Maximumrate is 18.00%. Minimum rate is 5.00%. The annual percentage rate can change quarterly on the first day of January, April, July and October. There is no limit on the amount by which the annual percentage can change during one year period. Contact the credit union for the complete loan details.
Contact The Loan Center For More Details.
THE
CITIZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATUR
DAY,
SEPTEM
BER
10
,20
11
–15
ASSESSMENT // BACK MOUNTAIN
MARK MORAN / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
HARVEYS LAKE: Boats at the Grotto area atthe entrance to the lake Thursday.
HARVEYS LAKE: A sliding board from a dock atWarden Place is inundated with lake water Thursday.
THE ITALIAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATION canceled its Septem-ber dinner meeting. The association’s next scheduled event isthe Person of the Year banquet on Oct. 9.
THE SEPT. 11 REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY, which wasscheduled at Luzerne County Community College for Sunday,has been canceled.
JOE NARDONE’S DOO WOP VOLUME 3 CONCERT at the F.M.Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre is postponed to Nov. 11 at 7p.m. The show was originally scheduled for Saturday. All tick-ets will be honored for the new date. Call 829-3603 for moreinformation.
THE LITTLE THEATRE OF WILKES-BARRE canceled perfor-mances of “Into the Woods” on Saturday and Sunday. Theshow will run Sept. 16-17 at 8 p.m. and Sept. 18 at 3 p.m.Tickets are $18. Call 823-1875 for reservations.
THE POSTAL SERVICE will attempt delivery and collections inCentral Pennsylvania unless roads are impassable or the areais under evacuation. Customers should contact local retailoffices for additional information. Stamps and shipping labelscan be purchased online at usps.com. Customers can alsorequest free package pickup online, and the Postal Servicewill pick up packages during regular mail delivery the nextbusiness day. Stamps can also be purchased by calling
SEE UPDATES, PAGE 19
FLOODING CANCELLATIONS AND POSTPONEMENTS
MARK MORAN / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
citizensvoice.com/dealsD o n ’ t m i s s a s i n g l e d e a l ! S i g n u p n o w !
3-DayWeekend
Pass
$10($15 value)
18–
THE
CIT
IZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATU
RD
AY,S
EPTE
MB
ER10,
2011
ASSESSMENT // WILKES-BARRE
KRISTEN MULLEN / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
WILKES-BARRE: Evacuees Kim R. and her daughter Arianna J., 5, rest ontheir cot at the G.A.R. High School shelter location.
KRISTEN MULLEN / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
WILKES-BARRE: A worker pumps out the Water Street parkade near theLuzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre on Thursday.
UPDATES, FROM PAGE 18
1-800-782-6724, at bankingATMs and in retail outlets.Visit www.uspseverywhere.com to find the nearest loca-tion.
GEISINGER NORTHEAST
CLINIC HOURS: clinicsKingston and Kistler areclosed today and will openat regularly scheduled hourson Monday. Lake Scrantonis open from 8 a.m. to 1p.m. today. Mount Pocono isopen today from 8 a.m. to 5p.m. Nicholson is open from
8 a.m. to noon. Tunkhannockis open from 8 a.m. to 2p.m. Careworks ConvenientHealthcare retail clinicslocated in Weis Markets inClarks Summit, Stroudsburg,Tannersville, Schnecksvilleand Allentown are open.View hours of operation atwww.mycareworks.com. Theafter-hours clinic at Geising-er Dallas is open from 9 a.m.to 9 p.m. today and Sunday.
GEISINGER CENTRAL CLINIC
HOURS: Berwick is openfrom 8:30 a.m. to 12:30p.m.; Kulpmont, Lewisburg,
Lycoming and Selinsgrovefrom 8 a.m. to noon; Knap-per Clinic family practice isopen 8 a.m. to noon, pediat-rics from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.and outpatient pharmacyfrom 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; TheSusquehanna Universityclinic is open with pediatricurgent care services avail-able from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
WEGMAN’S FOOD MARKETS
INC. DONATED A TRUCK-
LOAD OF NON-PERISHABLE
FOOD to the NortheastRegional Weinberg FoodBank in Wilkes-Barre. The
delivery includes cannedtuna, peanut butter and jelly,canned vegetables, soups,cereal, and plastic cups,plates, and cutlery. TheWegman’s Family CharitableFoundation also donated$150,000 to the AmericanRed Cross Wyoming ValleyChapter.
ST. PAUL’S EVANGELICAL
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF
MOUNTAIN TOP is open asa shelter. The church is alsoassembling cleaning kitsfor flood victims. Donationsof buckets, sponges, washcloths, towels, scrub brush-es, and cleaning solutionswill be accepted.
THE 180TH ANNIVERSARY
OF SISTERS OF MERCY
EVENT at Mohegan Sun atPocono Downs in PlainsTownship, originally sched-uled for Saturday, is post-poned to Dec. 3. The eventhonors the anniversary offounding of the Sisters ofMercy and the 10th
SEE UPDATES, PAGE 21
141 S. Main Street • Wilkes-Barre
Receive a PANDORA clasp bracelet(a $65 US retail value) with your purchaseof $100 or more of PANDORA jewelry.*
*Good while supplies last, limit one per customer.Charms shown on bracelet are sold separately.
Gift with Purchase • Sept. 8th–10th
Sterling Silver charms from $25
1.855.561.4721Call Now!
www.FortisInstitute.edu
FormerlyAllied
Medical andTechnicalInstitute
166 Slocum St.Forty Fort, PA 18704
For consumer information, visit www.Fortis.edu.
Day and Evening ClassesAvailableHS diploma or GED required
Programs offered:• Associate in Specialized Technology Degree-Medical Assistant
Technician • Business Administration/Accounting• Criminal Justice • ECG/Phlebotomy/Lab Assistant• Electrical Trades • Health Information Technician
• Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration• Massage Therapist • Medical Assistant
• Medical Transcription/Insurance Billing Specialist• Paralegal • Pharmacy Technician
Fortis Institute gives you all this:Convenient campus locations, flexible schedules, career placementassistance for all graduates and financial aid for those who qualify.
Come visit us at theLuzerne County Fair
September 7th - 11th!
THE
CITIZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATUR
DAY,
SEPTEM
BER
10
,20
11
–19
ASSESSMENT // PLAINS TOWNSHIP
DAVE SCHERBENCO / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
PLAINS TOWNSHIP: Harry Thomas, of Plainsville, steadies a pontoonboat on Courtright Street in Plains as flood waters rose Thursday.
PLAINS TOWNSHIP: A pontoon boat makes its way to Courtright Streetlaunch.
UPDATES, FROM PAGE 19
anniversary of MisericordiaUniversity’s Women withChildren Program.
THE FOLLOWING RITE AID
PHARMACIES are closeddue to mandatory evacua-tions: 155 E. NorthamptonSt. and 33 Public Squarein Wilkes-Barre, 22 WestSide Mall in Edwardsvilleand 5 E. Main St., Nanticoke.Patients can obtain prescrip-tions at other store locationsbecause the company’ssatellite-linked computer net-work maintains a completecustomer prescription his-tory. Call customer service at1-800-748-3243 to find theclosest open Rite Aid store.
THE BLOOMSBURG THEATRE
ENSEMBLE POSTPONED
PERFORMANCES OF “THE
GUYS” to Sept. 15-18.Patrons who already pur-chased tickets can usethose tickets for any per-formance. Call 784-8181or 800-282-0283, or email
[email protected] with ques-tions.
THE MANDATORY EVACU-
ATION ORDER AFFECTING
THOUSANDS OF WYO-
MING VALLEY RESIDENTS
INCLUDES MANY DIOCESAN
PRIESTS AND PARISHIO-
NERS who have been forcedto leave their rectories,churches and homes in
order to seek safety andshelter elsewhere. State,county and city officials haveimplored citizens residing inthe affected areas to adhereto the mandatory evacuationorder. Recognizing that somechurches in the ScrantonDiocese remain under man-datory evacuation, the oppor-tunity for regularly scheduledMasses to be celebrated
this weekend may not bepossible. The ScrantonDiocese issued the follow-ing statement Friday: At alltimes, an individual’s abilityto fulfill his or her obligationto attend Sunday Mass (i.e.,Saturday Vigil or SundayMass) can be influenced byreasons of poor health oradverse weather conditions(e.g., blizzard, hurricane or
flood). Catholics who areable to safely attend Mass atother churches are encour-aged to do so. A directory ofchurches and Mass times isavailable on the Diocese ofScranton website at www.dioceseofscranton.org. See“Find a Parish and MassTimes,” which provides a list
of parishes organized alpha-betically by location.
SEE UPDATES, PAGE 22
DAVE SCHERBENCO / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
Mesothelioma & Other AsbestosRelated Malignancies
This country owes its very existence to the strength andindustry of its working men and women. Their energy andcraftsmanship created America’s industry base... buildingconstruction, steel mills, shipyards, powerhouses, refineries andmanufacturing plants. America’s working men and women made theAmerican dream a reality.
Unfortunately, many worked in areas contaminated byasbestos. Asbestos causes Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related malignancies. Cancers, which in many cases, may notappear for many years can be caused by an exposure as brief as asummer job.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Mesotheliomaor other asbestos-related cancers, call...
Law Offices
PETER G. ANGELOSA Professional Corporation
60 W. Broad Street, Suite 200Bethlehem, PA 18018Phone 610-866-3333
Toll Free 1-888-464-3011
BALTIMORETENNESSEE
PHILADELPHIAHARRISBURGDELAWARE
CONTAGIONCONTAGION (XD-3D) (PG13)
2:10, 4:40, 7:30, 10:10BUCKY LARSON: BORN TOBE A STAR (DIGITAL) (R)12:35, 3:00, 5:25, 7:50, 10:15CONTAGION (DIGITAL)(PG13) 12:50, 3:30, 6:10, 8:50CREATURE (DIGITAL) (R)12:45, 3:10, 5:35, 8:00, 10:25WARRIOR (DIGITAL) (PG13)1:00, 2:30, 4:10, 5:45, 7:20,8:55, 10:30AP0LLO 18 (DIGITAL) (PG13)12:20, 2:55, 5:05, 7:45, 10:10COLOMBIANA (DIGITAL)(PG13) 1:20, 4:35, 7:25, 10:05COWBOYS & ALIENS(DIGITAL) (PG13) 12:25, 6:45CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE(DIGITAL) (PG13) 3:35, 9:30DEBT, THE (DIGITAL) (R)12:30, 3:40, 6:55, 9:55FINAL DESTINATION 5 (3D)(R) 4:55, 10:15FRIGHT NIGHT (2011) (3D)(R) 1:30, 7:35
HELP, THE (DIGITAL) (PG13)12:15, 3:45, 7:10, 10:30ONE DAY (DIGITAL) (PG13) 9:35OUR IDIOT BROTHER(DIGITAL) (R) 1:10, 3:25,5:50, 8:05, 10:20RISE OF THE PLANET OF THEAPES (DIGITAL) (PG13)12:05, 2:35, 5:15, 7:55, 10:35SARAH’S KEY (DIGITAL)(PG13) 1:55, 4:45, 7:15, 9:45SHARK NIGHT (3D) (PG13)12:40, 3:05, 4:05, 5:20, 7:40,8:45, 10:00SHARK NIGHT (DIGITAL)(PG13) 1:50, 6:30SMURFS, THE (3D) (PG)1:35, 4:30, 7:00SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME INTHE WORLD (3D) (PG) 12:00,2:25, 4:40, 7:05, 9:25SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME INTHE WORLD (DIGITAL) (PG)12:55, 3:15, 5:55, 8:20
DRIVE-INRT. 11 HUNLOCK CREEK • (570) 735-5933
FOR UPDATES, CHECK OURWEBSITE AND NEWSPAPERWWW.GARDENDRIVEIN.COM
GARDEN
CLOSED THIS WEEKENDDue To Flooding
Will Re-Open on Friday 9/16
Buying Gold JewelryDiamonds, Platinum,
Silver – Pure, CoinIndustrial & Sterling
Antique Jewelry (BrokenOK) Dental Gold, GoldFilled Eyeglasses, Etc.
KING TUT’SGOLD REPAIR HUT
824-4150322 N. PENN AVE. W-B
570-854-2283
BasementPumpingAvailable
Call
BOSS PLUMBING
114414Wilkes-Barre@Northampton & MainNorthampton & Main
MOV IE S
Don’t just watch a movie,experience it!
825.4444/rctheatres.comAll Stadium Seating & DOLBY Digital Sound
All Features Presented In Digital FormatFree Parking In Midtown Lot After 8 Pm & All Day Sat. & Sun.
Free 3 Hours At Participating WB Lots
“R” Rating PolicyParents and/or Guardians (Age 21 and older) must accompany all childrenunder age 17 to an R Rated Feature*No passes accepted to these features. **No restricted discount tickets orpasses accepted to these features.
1st Matinee $5.25 All Shows***$2.50 Additional Charge for 3D Attraction***◆$8.00 Additional Charge for D-Box Motion SeatsNo Passes, Rain checks, Discount Tickets Accepted to these features.
CONTAGION* PG13 (1:15), (3:45), 7:15, 9:45WARRIOR* PG13 (1:20), (4:20), 7:20, 10:20WARRIOR DBOX** PG13 (1:20), (4:20), 7:20, 10:20BUCKY LARSON: BON TO BE A STAR* R (1:50), (4:25), 7:30,9:50APOLLO 18 R (1:20), (3:25), 7:45, 9:50SHARKNIGHT IN 3D*** PG13 (12:50), (3:10), 7;00, 9:15THE DEBT R (12:30), (3:10), 7:10, 10:00COLOMBIANA PG13 (1:00), (4:00), 7:40, 10:15DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK R (1:00), (3:30), 7:30, 10:10OUR IDIOT BROTHER R (1:10), (3:20), 7:25, 9:45ONE DAY PG13 (1:25), 7:40SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD PG (1:30), (3:40),7:10, 9:2030 MINUTES OR LESS R (4:30), 10:10THE HELP PG13 (12:30), (3:40), 7:00, 10:10RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES PG13 (1:20), (3:45), 7:20,9:50CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE PG13 (1:15), (4:15), 7:15, 10:15
SPECIAL EVENTSNEAK PREAK SATURDAY 9-10 ONLY
I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT* PG13 7:00
THE
CITIZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATUR
DAY,
SEPTEM
BER
10
,20
11
–21
ASSESSMENT // AROUND THE REGION
AP PHOTO / BLOOMSBURG PRESS ENTERPRISE, JIMMY MAY
BLOOMSBURG: Airplanes sit on the west of the runway at the Blooms-burg Airport, in Bloomsburg as flood water from the Susquehanna Rivercovers the airport Thursday afternoon.
MICHAEL J. MULLEN / TIMES-SHAMROCK
TUNKHANNOCK: Flood water surrounds the Dietrich Theater inTunkhannock Thursday.
THE MUNICIPALITY OF KINGSTONannounced there will be no garbage collec-tion, recycling or yard waste pickup in theMunicipality of Kingston until futher notice.The Kingston Municipal Building and Recre-ation Center will be closed until the manda-tory evacuation is lifted. All residents and
business owners are urged to stay out of thecommunity until the evacuation order is lifted.All emergency calls are to be directed to 9-1-1. All non-emergency calls are to be directedto 288-3674. Anyone needing assistancewith evacuating should call 287-0770 or 287-0913.
How to submit updatesSend flood relat-ed updates [email protected] [email protected]. Updates will con-tinue to be publishedthroughout and followingthis flood emergency. Call821-2056 for information.
irchwoodasement
WATERPROOFINGB
Joseph Czarnecki, Owner
262-7060 or 255-0136
WET BASEMENT?
www.birchwoodwaterproofing.com
Best Prices In Luzerne County
Oldest Water Proofing Company In The Wyoming Valley!Locally Owned & Operated • 100% Customer Satisfaction • Lifetime Guarantee
Eliminate YourGlasses, Contacts, Bifocals.*Have Your Questions Answered.Attend my educationalseminars.
Wilkes-BarreWed. Sept. 14th
ScrantonTues. Sept. 20th
HazletonTues. Sept. 27th
Seating Is LimitedPreReister @
BucciVision.com
24 MonthsInterest FreeFinancing**1-877-DR-BUCCI
**Financing available to patients who qualify.
Attend & Save
$1,000 Off
LASIK
*Individual results may vary
KOMENSKY’SMARKETFresh and Smoked Kielbasi Always Available
Wednesdays See Us At The Hometown Farmer’s Market
LB.
BONELESS SKINLESS
CHICKEN BREASTOR CHICKEN
TENDERS$1.99
412 Main Street, Duryea, Mon.-Fri. 8-6; Sat. 8-4• Food Stamps Accepted • Full Service Meat Market • Prices Effective: Sept. 12 - Sept. 17
FREE HOME DELIVERY WITHIN THE GREATER PITTSTON AREA MON THRUFRIDAY - MINIMUM $25 PURCHASE, PLEASE CALL BY 11 AM. - 457-3261
®
®
LB.
KOMENSKY’S OWNHOT OR SWEETITALIANSAUSAGE$2.99
LB.
STUFFED B&S
CHICKENBREAST
OR
CUTLETS$2.99 LB.
KOMENSKY’S OWN
PORKETTA OR
ITALIAN SAUSAGEPATTIES
$2.99
LB.
WHOLE BEEFTENDERLOIN(CUT FREE)$5.99LB.
SMOKED
PORKCHOPS$3.89
BONELESS LOIN
PORKETTAOR
CHICKETTA
ROAST$3.29LB.
KOMENSKY’S OWN CHOICE
MINUTE STEAKSOR
STUFFED BEEF
BRACIOLE$4.99LB.
Come See Us At The Luzerne County Fair Sept. 7th To 11th
LB.
CHOICE
DELMONICOSTEAK
$8.99
22–
THE
CIT
IZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATU
RD
AY,S
EPTE
MB
ER10,
2011
ASSESSMENT // DURYEA
WARREN RUDA / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
DURYEA: Two men walk on the levee in Duryea justbehind a home on Chittenden Street Friday.
WARREN RUDA / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
DURYEA: Residents of Main Street along withguardsmen look at a vehicle stranded in floodwaters early Friday.
WARREN RUDA / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
DURYEA: Flooded Holy RosaryCemetery on Chittenden Street.
WARREN RUDA / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
DURYEA: Entrance to the Holy RosarySchool on Stephenson Street, Duryea. Theschool and church had flooded basements.
DURYEA: Home on Watt Street isreflected in the flood waters from theLackawanna River Friday morning.
DURYEA: Mark on this LackawannaAvenue home shows where the floodwaters from the Lackawanna Rivercrested Friday.
THE
CITIZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATUR
DAY,
SEPTEM
BER
10
,20
11
–27
ASSESSMENT // A PERSPECTIVE
Sept. 8, 2011: An overwhelmingsense of ‘here we go again’By Borys KrawczeniukStaff Writer
Deja vu fails to describedriving out of Wilkes-Barre with my father earlyThursday afternoon.
Deja dread is more likeit.
An overwhelming feel-ing of “here we go again.”
Complete and utter dis-belief.
Again, it rains bucketsin Binghamton, N.Y.
Again, all that rainwinds up in Wilkes-Barreand the Susquehanna Riv-er collects all that waterand rises, sucking thebreath out of the WyomingValley.
Again.On June 23, 1972, I was
11 years old, two weeksafter finishing sixth gradeat Franklin Street Elemen-tary School with threemonths of summertimeand no school ahead.
Trouble was, all thisrain kept falling.
It poured for a weekleading up to June 23, adate thousands of Wyo-ming Valley residentsremember annually liketheir birthdays.
The day of HurricaneAgnes, by then just a tropi-cal storm, a windless butrainy horror.
To this day, if I seesomeone famous was bornon that day or somethingsignificant happened onthat day in some otherplace or some other year, Ithink, “That’s the day ofthe flood.”
A neighbor knocked onour door around dawn andtold my parents that civildefense of f icials hadordered everyone to leavebecause the SusquehannaRiver was likely to over-flow its levee.
For this 11-year-old, thiswas all quite strange.
When I was 11, our par-ents did their best toshield us from the world.
As Ukrainian young ref-ugees of World War II,they had survived some of
the worst the world offeredand I think they preferredwe grew up far more nor-mally.
I knew about the Viet-nam War because it wasalways on television, butthat was far away, and Ialways worried our housewould be burglarizedbecause the newspaperalways had a story aboutsomeone’s home beingburglarized, but the par-ents did their best toshield us from other vaga-ries of life.
U n t i l t h e n e i g h b o rknocked on our door towarn us, I don’t rememberhearing anything about aflood, but my parentscould do nothing about it.
They could only flee theway they did almost 30years earlier.
We took clothing, but
left most everything elsebehind.
No one imagined whatAgnes had in mind.
We drove up BlackmanStreet in my dad’s navyblue 1965 Chevrolet BelAir in bumper-to-bumpertraffic toward Route 309south, up to Mountain Topand the home of a familyfriend who would houseus for weeks.
In the ensuing months,after more than 10 feet ofwater on our first floor, welearned first hand what allthe people in the floods Icovered later as a reporterlearn when their homesare flooded.
No need to relive thesuffering, struggle andemotional pain here.
Suffice to say, I sympa-thize dee ply with allwhose lives have suddenly
been ripped apart, eventhough I live in Scrantonfar away from any floodplain.
Dad, Joseph Krawczeni-uk, was 47 years old thatmorning we headed forMountain Top, and 86 as Idrove up Blackman Streetwith him on Thursdaymorning.
Again.This time, I was behind
the wheel, just the two ofus because mom diedalmost four years ago, twobrothers live elsewhereand the other was evacuat-ing his own family.
I spent about four hoursThursday morning haul-ing all the belongings Icould lift by myself todad’s second floor.
As I removed all thefamily photos from thewalls downstairs, my dad
looked at me and said, inUkrainian, “You think thewater will get that high?”
It got way higher thanthat in 1972 — more than15 feet of water filled thefirst floor and lapped acouple of feet below thesecond in our three-story
house — and I wasn’t tak-ing any chances.
Before we left , dadlooked around and said itwould take a lot of work toput back all the stuff Itook upstairs.
“I hope so,” I responded.“I hope so.”
THE CITIZENS’ VOICE FILE
A view of Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, duringthe Agnes flood in 1972.
BELLESCONSTRUCTION CO.
ENERGY SAVINGSWINDOW SALE
FREE Triple PaneUpgrade on all
Plygem LifestyleWindowsTax Credit Approved
Maximum Efficiency & Sound Control
SIDING EXPERTS TOO!CALL
824-7220PA012959
Accepting Medical Assistance, Medicare, BC/BS, Geisinger& most insurances.
PSYCHIATRIC & COUNSELING
(Ahora, el psquiatra esta admitrendo ruevos pacientes pormedicacion, direccion, y orientacion psicopedagogicia. Pacuntes de
lodas las edades estan aceptando.)
Dr. S. Rahman, M.D.Psychiatrist
Expertise in Family/Marital/Couple/Grief/
Phase of Life Counseling
• Anger Management• Childhood Abuse• Drug/Alcohol/Smoking
Cessation• Hypnotherapy
Expertise in PanicAttack, Depression,
Anxiety, OCD, Bipolar,PTSD, ADHD
Now accepting newpatients for medication
management & counseling.Patients of all ages
welcome.
Nick TelinchoTherapist
SVC, PCEARLY
BLOOMSBURG996A OLD BERWICK RD.
784-5663HAZLETON
454-2545
SHAVERTOWN(Back Mountain) 181 N. MAIN ST.
674-3939MOUNTAINTOP
474-0100
HEAD
ACHE
?
HEAD
ACHE
? EEXXAAMMEXAM&& XX--RRaayy& X-Ray
(If Necessary)
Kingston288-5800
Mountain Top474-9600
Call TODAY for same-day appointment!Expires: July 19, 2011
WITH THIS COUPON
FFRREEEEFREEHEROLD’SFARMMARKET
FAMILY RUN FOR OVER 100 YEARS
1/8 Mile Past Hanover Mall,Sans Souci Pkwy, Hanover 735-2918
Mon-Sat. 9-6 • Sun. 9-5
5% Senior Discount on TuesdayPA FMNP CHECKS Accepted Here
HOME GROWN SWEET CORNTomatoes, Melons, Asters,Mums, Pickling Cucumbers,Zucchini, Yellow Squash,
Peaches & Dill
• Fall Vegetable Plants • All Gallon Perennials - $499• All Quart Perennials -• All Quart Perennials - $$229999
ASTERS, MUMS OVER 10,000 AVAILABLE
Coins & Jewelry Silver, Gold, for Cash
Confidential are Transactions All
Site on Expert Coin and Jewelry
718-4721Ctr Shopping Gateway 34
EDWARDSVILLE
! Most The Pay We
Banking of Dept PA Licensed
Value Melt Highest For Prices Spot Time Real
32–
THE
CIT
IZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATU
RD
AY,S
EPTE
MB
ER10,
2011
ASSESSMENT // SHICKSHINNY SOUTH TO BLOOMSBURG
HARRY J. DEITZ / FOR THE NEWS-ITEM
ELYSBURG: Jack Semerod, an employee of Knoebels Amusement Re-sort, checks out high water by the birthday pavilion Thursday.
AP PHOTO / BLOOMSBURG PRESS ENTERPRISE, JIMMY MAY
BLOOMSBURG: Colored benches from theBloomsburg Fairground sit in a pile againsta fence as flood water from Fishing Creekmoves across the fairground Thursday.
BLOOMSBURG:From the top of theimage, the secondand the sixth homein the 900 block ofWest Main Street inBloomsburg havebeen moved off theirfoundations by floodwater from FishingCreek Thursday.
SHICKSHINNY: Three kayakers paddle in their boats on flood waterfrom the Susquehanna River which covers the parking lot of the 5 Moun-tain Market Thursday afternoon.
AP PHOTO / BLOOMSBURG PRESS ENTERPRISE, JIMMY MAY
AP PHOTO / BLOOMSBURG PRESS ENTERPRISE,
JIMMY MAY
ELYSBURG: Thecreek familiar tomany amusementpark patrons ex-ceeds its banksand inundatesKnoebels Amuse-ment Resort.
HARRY J. DEITZ / FOR THE NEWS-ITEM
THE
CITIZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATUR
DAY,
SEPTEM
BER
10
,20
11
–33
Flood insurance shows its benefitsBy Borys KrawczeniukStaff Writer
President Obama’s declara-tion Friday of an emergencyin six local counties is thefirst in a series of steps beforeflooded regions can get feder-al aid, but many flood victimsdon’t have to wait that long toget things rolling.
Victims covered by federalflood insurance can file adamage claim as soon asemergency management offi-cials allow them back intotheir homes and they canassess their damage.
“You don’t have to wait”for the president to do any-thing else to file a claim, saidTheodore B. Wampole Jr., alead sales representative forLiberty Mutual in Wilkes-Barre.
The Federal EmergencyManagement Agency, whichoversees the National FloodInsurance Program, advisesflood insurance policyhold-ers to contact their insur-ance agents about filing
claims, though Wampole saidthey can also call a toll-freeFEMA number.
The national flood insur-ance call center’s toll-freenumber is 1-800-427-4661,according to FEMA’s web-site.
“An adjuster will be intouch with you as soon as pos-sible and will work with youto calculate the value of thedamage and prepare a repairestimate,” a FEMA brochuresays.
Flood insurance typicallycovers a home and its con-tents. Basement damage isonly covered if it involves awasher, dryer, heating fur-nace or water boiler orrefrigerator, Wampole said.
For flood victims withoutflood insurance, federal helpcould still be available.FEMA might cover damageto a primary residence if itentails making ”the dam-aged home safe, sanitary andfunctional,” according to aFEMA document.
But FEMA aid does not
happen unless the presidentdeclares a disaster.
Obama’s declaration Fri-day of an emergency was notthe same as a disaster decla-ration.
The emergency declara-tion allows FEMA to providehelp for measures that allevi-ate widespread emergencies— typically anything meantto save live, protect property,public health and safety andto avert catastrophes.
It addresses immediatedangers and could includereimbursement for policeprotection, bottled water orother commodities for shel-ters, generators.
The emergency declara-tion covers Bradford, Lacka-wanna, Luzerne, Monroe,Susquehanna and Wyomingcounties and 36 other coun-ties.
Beyond that, there is long-term help of two general cat-egories — assistance for indi-viduals and assistance forgovernments that need torepair roads, bridges and
other infrastructure.Getting that aid requires
damage assessments and apresidential disaster declara-tion.
That is done by teams offederal, state and local dam-age inspectors.
Usually, one team assesseshome and business damageand another focuses on dam-age to roads, bridges andother infrastructure.
For homeowners and busi-ness owners to be eligible,“FEMA typically requires avery large number of homes(or businesses) to have suf-fered major damage or tohave been destroyed,” saidCory Angell, a PennsylvaniaEmergency ManagementAgency spokesman.
There is no thresholdnumber for individual dam-age that an individual orregion must meet to obtaina presidential disaster dec-laration, though majordamage is generally arequirement, said NicholasMorici, an external affairs
officer for FEMA.“We look at, more or less,
the humanistic side of it,too,” he said.
If a disaster is declaredFEMA can provide up toabout $30,000 per householdto pay for home repairs, tem-porary housing, cleanupsand generally anything thatmakes a home suitable again,Morici said.
“Nobody’s going to get a40-inch Sony,” he said.
He suggest homeownersdocument “all their damagesto the ‘T’,” including takingphotos, he said.
FEMA will typically set upa central disaster recovercenter in an affected regiononce the declaration hap-pens.
For damage to roads andbridges, states and countieshave specific damage thresh-old guidelines to meet towarrant federal aid to fixroads and bridges, Angellsaid.
Pennsylvania’s thresholdis $16.5 million, a threshold
almost undoubtedly exceed-ed in this flood across the 42counties, Angell said. Thethreshold for Luzerne Coun-ty is $1,049,402, Lackawanna,$701,209, Susquehanna,$141,774, Wyoming, $92,463,Monroe, $555,383, and Brad-ford, $204,774.
Angell cautioned thethresholds are only guide-lines and falling short doesnot necessarily mean it willnot be eligible for aid.
How long it takes to get adisaster declaration varies,though most serious disas-ters take days to a week.Often, the wait dependspartly on how quickly offi-cials collect damage esti-mates. Sometimes, roaddamage limits restricts theability to conduct assess-ments.
“I’ve seen them takeweeks, I’ve seen them takedays, I’ve seen them takehours,” Morici said. “We’reasking people to be patient.”
ASSESSMENT // FEMA ADVICE; WEST PITTSTON, SHICKSHINNY FACE CLEANUP
FROM PAGE 7
Around town in areaswhere the water subsided,people were busy power-washing and shovelingmud. The streets werelined with damaged furni-ture and carpets. Peopledumped spoiled food in thegarbage outside.
On Exeter Avenue, JeffHoltz said half the inven-tory of his landmark hard-ware store, Old Mill Pine,was hit by floor waters thatfilled 3 feet of his store.Holltz is also a dealer ofStihl products, such aschain saws and otherequipment.
A host of more than 20friends helped him get hishigh-priced products tohigher ground. Then, theyreturned Friday to helphim clean.
“They just came,” Holtzsaid, with tears comingdown his f ace. “I g etchoked up now thinkingabout it.”
[email protected], 570-821-2055
FROM PAGE 7
CVS pharmacy. Residentslike elderly Nancy Luczakare worried the businessesmight not come back.
“We’ll be screwed if thestores leave here,” she said.“Especially the people whodon’t have cars.”
The floodwater forced itsway up West Union Street,filling the firehouse andmunicipal building withmore than 4 feet of water.
Both were built after Agnesand constructed to meet 100-year-flood standards, Morrissaid.
“We lost a lot of stuff,” hesaid. But the historicalrecords were “high and dry,”he said. “You can’t replaceminutes from 1920.”
The firetrucks wereremoved before the flood. Thecomputers were safe, too,when firefighters donned wetsuits and braved chest-deepwater to check, Morris said.
But municipal recordswon’t be OK, and the policedepartment is under water,borough council President
Rosalie Whitebread said.Since the fire hall, the usu-
al flood refuge, was flooded,Kathie and Sherm Finkoffered the use of theirUnion Street house as a com-munity center. The porchand front yard hummed withactivity: a pot of chili beingheated on a grill for lunch,Mayor Beverly Moore order-ing portable toilets for thetown, children helping them-selves to drinks from an ice-filled kiddie pool and snacksfrom a well-stocked table,arrangements being madefor sump pumps for floodedbasements.
“We’re only being neigh-borly,” Kathie Fink said asshe put together a box of foodfor the National Guardsmenstationed at Route 239.
Whitebread ferventlythanked the residents whostepped up to donate every-thing from food to paperplates.
“God bless our people inthis town,” she said.
Residents who didn’t haveanywhere else to go could
stay at Northwest Area HighSchool or the ShickshinnyUnited Methodist Church.
Some stayed put anyway,like George and Gloria Davis,despite 4 feet of water intheir basement, according totheir daughter Stacy Cresci.
“My dad was afraid toleave,” she said. “He said peo-ple were going to loot thehouse.”
Cresci believes the exten-sive flooding in Shickshinnycould have been prevented ifthe river had been dredgedafter the levee systemupstream at Wilkes-Barrewas put in.
“It’s not fair how they pro-tect certain areas and let oth-er areas go,” she said. “Wehave rights. We pay taxes.”
Morris is angered that nocounty or state officials havecome to see Shickshinny —and they need to see it, hesays.
“I think that’s what upsetsme the most,” Morris said.“We get hit hard, and theyknow it.”
A lot of residents share the
feelings of Natalie Fink, whodoesn’t want to move eventhough she was flooded outof the Shickshinny high rise.
“This is my town. I’m notleaving,” she said. “I’m goingto be 90 years old and still liv-ing in this town.”
Moore, whose Canal Streethome was flooded throughthe first floor and her garagewashed away, fought backtears as she described howshe lost all her Halloweendecorations — and that’s herfavorite holiday.
She cannot get to her houseto see what’s left because theriver’s current is too strong.It’s not about the repeat flood-ing — disasters happeneverywhere, and she chose to
live there, she said. Her housewas built to withstand watera foot above the Agnes level.It’s more bad publicity forShickshinny, Moore fears.
“I love this town. I do. Ididn’t expect this,” she said.
Most people whose homeswere not flooded or had mini-mal flooding kept their pow-er, but in neighboring Moca-naqua, debris hit a powerline at 11:15 a.m. Friday anddisrupted service to about800 customers.
“UGI is currently assess-ing the damage and establish-ing a timeframe for restora-tion,” according to a newsrelease.
[email protected], 570-821-2072
Shickshinny: Police departmentunder water; records may not be OK
West Pittston:Friends helpbusiness owner
SHICKSHINNY: Floodwaters completelyengulf houses on Susquehanna Avenue,McClintock Street and Canal Street.
ELIZABETH SKRAPITS / THE CITIZENS’ VOICE
36–
THE
CIT
IZEN
S’
VOIC
ES
ATU
RD
AY,S
EPTE
MB
ER10,
2011