Senate Committees hold hearing on Flooding & Emergency Response

Today, the Pennsylvania Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee and the Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee held a joint hearing on “Flooding and Emergency Response” at the State Capitol.

This past winter, flooding took place all throughout the Commonwealth.  The Committees heard from county and local officials from Allegheny, Bradford, and Dauphin Counties, in addition to the Boroughs of Etna (Allegheny), the Borough of West Pittston (Luzerne), and the City of Meadville (Crawford) as they testified on the flooding and landslides that took place in their areas, as well as the planning that took place prior to the incidents, the aftermath, and the response efforts.

The PA Department of Environmental Protection, PA Emergency Management Agency, and the PA Fish & Boat Commission testified on their roles in managing the issues of flooding in Pennsylvania’s waterways as well as resources available to local officials.

“There are no words to describe what it’s like to experience a flood – simply put, it wipes you out,” said Senator Randy Vulakovich (R-Allegheny), Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee.  He urged the state agencies to work more closely with local officials to clean out creeks from debris so that flooding can be prevented or limited. 

“Flooding throughout Pennsylvania has caused devastation to many of our local communities over the years,” said Sen. Gene Yaw, Chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee.  “This Hearing provided an opportunity to discuss necessary resources and financial assistance for many of our communities still in recovery.”

The hearing can viewed online at www.senatorvulakovich.com or www.senatorgeneyaw.com.  

 

Contact:
Nate Silcox (717) 787-6538                nsilcox@pasen.gov
Nick Troutman (717) 787-3280        ntroutman@pasen.gov

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