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Monday, September 09, 1996 Page:
Jenkins Township still waiting for first dime of flood relief
I am writing in response to your Aug. 22 article, “Buyout might still be
possible,” which focused on the special meeting of the Jenkins Township Board
of Supervisors that concerned the January flooding in Port BlanchardDespite my
best efforts to explain the two governmental programs which were presented to
township officials, your article addressed only the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Mitigation Grant Program, which requires a
federal, state, and local “match” for funding. The story failed to recognize
the Wyoming Valley Levy Raising Project, which includes provisions for
nonstructural flood mitigation.
Consequently, your article, as published, misled by saying that township
officials missed a “crucial deadline” under the FEMA Flood Mitigation Grant
Program, without addressing the fact that under the Levy Raising Project, Port
Blanchard may still get nonstructural flood mitigation without a local “match”
requirement .
The Village of Port Blanchard has been flooded in 1936, 1972, 1975, 1983,
1993, and 1996, and has been under study by the Army Corps of Engineers for
more than 20 years.
As late as last year, individuals proclaiming to be acting under the
auspices of the Corps were canvassing the village, asking residents if they
would accept a buyout of their homes and indicating that the matter was under
study.
In previous years meetings were held which informed the residents that the
village was under study, but that no federal funding had been approved for
buyouts.
Eventually, nonstructural flood mitigation (which includes buyouts) fell
into Congressman Kanjorski’s Wyoming Valley Levy Raising Project, which
ostensibly is being administered under the newly formed Flood Authority on the
county level.
A question has now arisen as to whether enough money will be available for
nonstructural flood mitigation under the levy raising project.
During this year, the township board members were presented with two
alternatives. One project was the FEMA Flood Mitigation Grant Program, and the
other was the Wyoming Valley Levy Raising Project.
As mentioned, the FEMA program requires a local “match” while the levy
raising project does not.
In June, the state legislature passed a law reducing the local “match”
requirement under the FEMA program from 25 percent to 3 percent.
Unfortunately, no one from the state took it upon themselves to notify our
township of this significant legislation.
At the 25 percent match rate under the FEMA grant, the township would bear
the expense of at least one million dollars. At a 3 percent match rate, the
township would bear the expense of at least $120,000.
Why did it take until June 1996 — so close to a June deadline for the
submission of FEMA Flood Mitigation Grant Applications — for the state to
pass this significant legislation?
Was it a matter of politics? Was it a matter of the state using leverage to
force federal officials to accept 100 percent financial responsibility for
these flood disasters?
Did everyone assume that this Second Class Township, which by law is at its
maximum allowable millage, could bear this overwhelming expense? Who knows?
But, notwithstanding it all, these flooded residents and business owners
have duly suffered.
I appreciate their sympathy since my parents are two of the affected
residents.
I appreciate the congressman’s efforts in assisting this township under
both programs. Whether or not he can help us get an extension of time in order
to file a grant application to FEMA, and whether or not he can draw attention
to the needs our residents and business owners in his Wyoming Valley Levy
Raising Project, we applaud him.
But, looking at the flood problems of this village objectively, the state
and the county must assume timely responsibility and act promptly!
Although township officials immediately incurred expenses for evacuation,
pumping, emergency curfew, emergency debris removal and other flood measures,
the township still has not received one dime of assistance from any state or
county agency.
Do we not all live in the same district? Our constituents are the same!
These flood victims vote on all levels — federal, state, and local.
The river cuts through this country, state, and county just as much as it
cuts through Jenkins Township and the village of Port Blanchard.
We cannot assume that this second class township with its constrained and
limited budget could bear these overwhelming flood mitigation expenses.
Flood mitigation for this village should be purely a federal, state, and
county affair.
Nevertheless, township officials are committed to evaluating all viable
alternatives and will pursue this matter with higher authorities.
Robert A. Zigmund
Chairman
Jenkins Township
Board of Supervisors