Governor, Local Officials Working To Bring Help For Flood Victims

Victims from Monday’s flash flooding event that devastated parts of the area are looking for relief, and officials told them Friday they are working to deliver.

Gov. Tom Wolf, state lawmakers, county officials, and local authorities toured flood damage on Snowden Avenue in Bristol Township and the Lafayette Gardens apartments in Bensalem Township.

The governor met with residents at the two locations and pledged that the state was working to help them.

“Let me just say to everybody how terribly devastating this has been and how sorry I am for the devastation that has been caused,” he said.

As of Friday afternoon, a full tally of the damage had not been reported, but local, county, and state officials were still working to add up costs to private and public structures and infrastructure. The damage is expected to be in the millions.

Residents in Bensalem Township and Bristol Township asked the governor if relief funds would be coming.

“The message I got from everyone here is ‘we need help,’” the governor said.

The governor’s office released the following information:

In order to receive a federal disaster declaration for Individual Assistance, which provides money directly to homeowners and renters, the commonwealth would need to reach certain thresholds for the number of homes that fit into the classification of “major damage” or “destroyed” along with other considerations which
are specified on the FEMA website.

In order to receive a federal disaster declaration for Public Assistance, which provides funding to governments and certain eligible non-profits to repair or replace damaged infrastructure, counties must meet individual thresholds that are based on population, and the commonwealth overall must meet a threshold of $19.6 million in damages.

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Deputy Director Jeff Thomas said it was unclear if the area would reach the number needed to get federal aid through a disaster declaration.

Speaking to LevittownNow.com, Wolf said he will be encouraging federal authorities to offer support for the impacted residents and businesses. The governor appeared frustrated that the process to get federal aid was filled with red tape.

“This is inadequate. Whatever we do is not enough and it’s not fast enough,” Wolf said. “All of our public servants have to take this and say once again … ‘we have got to do more.’”

The governor said there’s too much paperwork for disaster victims and “we got to do better than that.”

“This affects real human lives,” he added.

When approached by a reporter from this news organization who was planning to ask about whether he had talked to federal authorities about disaster aid for the area, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick refused to answer any questions.

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Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie said the county is looking see if they can use federal COVID-19 relief money to assist flooding victims.

Thomas said PEMA is exploring other aid to help those impacted by the flooding. For small business owners, he said some federal relief programs have a lower thresholds for disasters.

Officials announced a multi-agency resource center with local, county, state, and nonprofit resources will be set up where victims can get assistance. The center will be open Tuesday, July 20, and Wednesday, July 21 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Keystone Elementary School in Bristol Township’s Croydon section.

The resource center will have staff from numerous agencies that can assist impacted residents cut through red tape and answer questions.

Audrey Kenny, the interim emergency management director for the county, urged residents to report damage to municipal officials and keep track of their storm-related costs.

Residents and business owners can report storm damage to municipal officials using the phone numbers below:

• Bensalem Township – 215-633-3741
• Bristol Borough – 215-788-3828, ext. 12
• Bristol Township – 267-812-2938

State Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, State Rep. John Galloway, State Rep. Tina Davis, State Rep. Perry Warren, Harvie, Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo, and Bristol Township Council President Craig Bowen were among the officials who talked with those whose homes were damaged by the flooding that dumped 8 to 10 inches on the area in the matter of only hours.

On Snowden Drive in Bristol Township, Trudy Clark spoke with the governor.

“Twenty-seven years of my life is in that dumpster,” she told him.

Clark said she has faith the governor was listening and that some relief will come through.

“I have nothing, but thank god I have my family,” one woman in Bensalem Township said to the governor.

Residents told Wolf they are upset and confused that their insurance won’t cover flood damage to their cars and homes.

The governor said the multi-agency resource center will have staff who can help residents with insurance-related issues.

“If you are getting the runaround, you have someone you can talk to who can do something about it,” Wolf said.

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