Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Just over two months after the July 12 flash flooding event that damaged hundreds of home across the, a bipartisan group of Lower Bucks County lawmakers announced they secured $1.75 million to help residents impacted.
State Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, a Republican from Bensalem Township, and state representatives Tina Davis, a Democrat from Bristol Township; John Galloway, a Democrat from Bristol Township; and K.C. Tomlinson, a Republican from Bensalem Township, announced at a press conference in Bristol Borough that worked to get the state funding. The Redevelopment Authority of Bucks County will administer the Neighborhood Flood Assistance Program.
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Residents will be able to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to cover flooding damage to their homes.
The money is the first public grant program for victims of the July flooding. It follows a recent commitment from the county that they will fund a $2.5 million recovery program through non-profit United Way of Bucks County. The county has already set aside $1.2 million to assist people displaced from their homes.
While there have been low-interest loans available through a federal program for those impacted by the storm, the localized area where as much as 10 inches of rain fell over only a few hours did not qualify for federal disaster recovery grants from Federal Emergency Management Agency (Federal Emergency Management Agency.)
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The severe flooding impacted a narrow swath of land in Bensalem Township, Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, and a portion of Philadelphia. It led to residents being displaced and damage to many homes.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
More than 1,100 people reported damage to homes and businesses in Bensalem Township, Bristol Borough, and Bristol Township. County officials have said they estimate as many as 400 people were displaced by the flooding.
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Redevelopment Authority of Bucks County Chairman Sean Schafer said the Neighborhood Flood Assistance Program is an important effort to help those impacted by the storm.
“I know some people thought we forgot them, but we never forgot them. We didn’t forget these people in trouble,” Sen. Tomlinson said.
Tomlinson and the other lawmakers said they’ve heard from people impacted and seeking help every day since the flooding. He added the lawmakers and their staffs have been dedicated to getting aid.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
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Davis said some of the people impacted by the flooding were also hit hard by COVID-19 and its related troubles.
“For the flooding to be right on top of last year’s event, this was disastrous,” she said.
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State Rep. Tomlinson said the area not reaching the level of damage needed for federal disaster grants was not a good enough answer.
“We worked together to secure this critical funding for those in our communities,” she said.
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“We were stuck, but now there’s hope,” Bensalem Township Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo said of the funding.
Craig Bowen, Bristol Township Council president, said the aid is needed and will help get people back on track.
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Jeff Darwak, executive director of the Redevelopment Authority of Bucks County, said there was time taken to create a streamlined application process, which can be found online. Paper applications can be obtained by contacting the Redevelopment Authority of Bucks County at 215-781-8711 or submitting an email request to inquiries@bcrda.com.
The funding will be granted to eligible residents until it is used. Darwak said priority will be given to those who are currently unable to return home.
Those applying for the funds will need to provide documentation to show primary residency, proof of property damage, and costs incurred as a result of the flooding event.
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All the elected officials who spoke had their own stories about the July 12 flooding. Tomlinson said he was stuck in a restaurant due to the flooding, while Davis’ commute from Harrisburg to her home in Bristol Township’s Croydon section stretched to four hours and ended with her finding water damage at her house.
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