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A flood warning system was approved by the Lycoming County Commissioners at the request of Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Forest Rothchild. Rothchild said that he was presenting the item on behalf of Kelsey Green, who has been leading our flood warning work in emergency management.
"Flooding is obviously a very serious hazard that our county faces, and when water rises, minutes matter. Our stream gages are how we see it coming. They give our emergency managers, our 911 center, and our first responders the water level data we need to warn residents, and position resources before the conditions turn dangerous," Rothchild told the commissioners at their recent meeting.
He recommended that Keystone Communications Incorporated be awarded the bid for the project which is funded through ARPA grant funds.
"Those dollars come with firm federal deadlines. We are ready to work with Keystone to get this moving quickly. Our priority at this time is replacing all of the stream gauges, standing up a new platform for delivering the data," Rothchild said.
"We will spend only up to the amount that ARPA funding has available, and routine preventative maintenance inspections will be carried in our regular DPS operation budget, not ARPA," he added.
When asked what the timeline might be for the work, Rothchild said that the biggest issue right now is equipment supply with about an eight week delay on getting some materials delivered.
Rothchild also requested that the commissioners ratify the Lycoming County Department of Declaration for emergencies from storms and flash flooding on Sept. 2 and 3. He said that it had been dated September 4th and submitted to PEMA (Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency) to formally document the county's event and preserve the county's ability to pursue state and federal recovery assistance if the damages are warranted.
Significant rainfall, severe storms, and flash flooding hit multiple municipalities across Lycoming County and partnering counties on Sept. 2 and 3.
"The volume of water overwhelmed portions of our stormwater drainage, roadway, culvert, and stream infrastructure. The result was flooding of homes, businesses, foundations, and structural damages, including damaged roads, erosion, landslides, access problems, debris, and residents temporarily being displaced from their homes. South Williamsport and Duboistown have both issued their own local disaster declaration," Rothchild said.
"Because the need was immediate, the county's declaration was dated for September 4th and submitted to PEMA, so response and damage assessment could be moved without delay. Under Commonwealth Statute 7501, local disaster emergency declaration activates the county's emergency management plans, authorizes aid and assistance. Our declaration directed our Department of Public Safety and EMA to collect and validate and report damages and coordinate with PEMA. It requests Pima's review of the Commonwealth's disaster program, a joint preliminary damage assessment, and federal assistance if applicable," he explained.
As written, the declaration remains in effect for the next seven days, unless extended, modified, or terminated by the board.
In regards to reporting damage, Rothchild said that the county is using a system called Crisis Track as the primary system for reporting physical storm damage.
"Residents and businesses should submit their location, damage details, photographs, and any other details to the Emergency Management Agency, so we can review, validate each report, and build the official county damage picture from PEMA. Municipal, local, or municipal emergency coordinators are assisting residents who cannot self-report, document the municipal or public infrastructure damage," he said.
"PA 211 also remains a resource for recovery assistance and referrals for anyone who is without means. If you are without food, without resources at home, that resource 211 is still to assist with the unmet needs. Damage reporting is what is done through the Crisis Track," he said.
He said a simple thing to remember is storm damage goes through Crisis Track; recovery needs, call 211 and then 911 if there is an emergency.
"Recovery takes time. This declaration keeps every available door open for the residents and municipalities hit hardest," he added.
Rothchild stressed that it's important for everyone to report any damage because there is a threshold that needs to be met in order to qualify for state or federal funds.
Under agenda items, the commissioners approved: thee attorneys in the Public Defenders Office-Matthew Slivinski, Donald Martin, Robert Hoffa and Krista Deats, all fees to be paid out of operating expenses; the Zoom renewal with Keyser Consulting Group, LLC in the amount of $12,500.00, to be paid out of operating expenses; Resolution 2026-18 amending Resolution 2024-01 and removing an assistant solicitor; the MOU with Lycoming County Housing Authority for environmental reviews; and the grant application with the PA Commission on Crime & Delinquency for fiscal year 2026-2027 Intermediate Punishment Treatment Program Initiative in the amount of $380,000 which helps to fund the full salary of a probation officer with the Probation Office getting $175,000 and $204,000 going to West Branch Drug and Alcohol where they provide a comprehensive list of drug and alcohol services.
Two items to be paid through Act 198 restricted funds were approved. They include: a Memorandum of Understanding with West Branch Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission in the amount of $10,000; and a Memorandum of Understanding with West Branch Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission in the amount of $50,000.
Personnel items approved by the commissioners included the following internal changes: Jeffery Hamilton, full-time director of Veterans Affairs, $47,837 per year; ;Pre-Release Center - Judy Lohman, part-time resident supervisor at the Pre-Release Center, a union position, $20.70 per hour; Jennifer Gies, full-time sergeant at the Prison, $27.23 per hour; Tapanga Jolin, full-time at the prison, a union position at the Prison, $21.50 per hour.
New hires approved included: Facilities Management - James Baker, full-time custodial worker at Facilities Management, $14.87 per hour; Vaughn Ceccacci, full-time assistant director of Veterans Affairs, in Military Affairs, $21.34 per hour; and Michelle Probst, full-time resident supervisor at the Pre-Release Center, $20.70 per hour.
The next commissioners' meeting will be at 10 a.m., Sept. 17 at the Commissioners' Board Room, 3rd floor Third Street Plaza, 33 West Third St.