FEMA Flood Map Changes Coming

Multi-year federal project is re-examining the flood zones throughout Northampton County.

Be prepared, residents of Forks and Palmer townships: Your flood zone could be changing. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) is undertaking a multi-year project to re-examine flood zones in Northampton County, including Palmer and Forks. The project is designed to develop detailed, digital hazard maps—Flood Insurance Rate Maps—that reflect current flood risks, replacing maps that are over a decade old. With Forks and Palmer prone to flooding, flood insurance is required once these maps become effective. For more information on flood insurance, visit the National Flood Insurance Program's website. The maps are projected to become effective in September as will any new flood insurance requirements. The maps may be reviewed at the …

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Supervisors Notebook

Hurricane Sandy Cleanup Discussed in Palmer

Palmer Township Public Safety Director meeting with FEMA representative about Hurricane Sandy.

Sewer engineering services and Hurricane Sandy topped the short Palmer Township Board of Supervisors meeting Monday. In basically a meeting to clear some housekeeping items, the Palmer supervisors first resolved some issues that will allow Gannett Fleming to continue providing sewer engineering services for 2013. Last year, the township dissolved its sewer authority. But Gannett Fleming will be kept on to complete projects after the firm agreed to some liability language changes in their agreement which had come up about three weeks ago. In other business: In departmental reports:

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Federal Officials: 'Time To Act Is Now'

National Hurricane Center forecasters caution the public to not underestimate Hurricane Sandy based on its storm category or projections on where it will come ashore.

Federal emergency management and weather officials said Sunday that the time for preparing for Hurricane Sandy is rapidly coming to an end. "The time for preparing and talking is about over," said Craig Fugate, adminstrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. People need to be acting about now." Hurricane Sandy is expected to affect as many as 50 million people as it makes its westward turn toward the East Coast. While the most recent maps show the center of the storm tracking toward New Jersey, forecasters are hesitant to pinpoint a specific area for landfall. Rick Knabb, director of the National Hurricane Center, said forecasters are still looking for the storm to come ashore somewhere between the Delmarva coastline and Rhode …

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Preparing for a Disaster: 5 Things to Do, Just in Case

September is National Preparedness Month.

You've heard all the "no-duh" tips before about preparing for a disaster - keep water and non-perishable food on hand, have a flashlight with extra batteries. But this month the federal government is hoping you will get down to details to make a plan for, not the unthinkable, but the inevitable: wild fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods or even terrorism and pandemics. To get the word out FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has built an extensive website to help citizens plan and prepare. Ready.gov offers instructions on how to ready your family, your home, your car and even your business for an emergency. The site includes tips specific to disasters common in our area including floods and massive power outages. There are even …

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Palmer Prepares for Flood Zone Changes

FEMA has remapped the flood zones in Northampton County.

FEMA's recent remapping of flood zones in Northampton County could have an impact on Palmer Township. Township Supervisor Bob Lammi informed the board at a recent meeting about the remapping and wondered what impact it could have on Palmer Township property owners. "Has anyone looked at the impact?" Lammi asked. FEMA is the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Township Manager Christopher Christman said he had discussed the issue with Planning Director Cynthia Carman and Public Safety Director Tom Adams regarding three streams that could impact certain property owners. In other recent Board of Supervisors business:

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Forks Gets $12,663 for Tropical Storm Irene Damage

The Forks Township Board of Supervisors was informed that FEMA will award the township $12,663 to pay for damages related to Tropical Storm Irene.

Forks Township is getting money back from damage suffered during Tropical Storm Irene. The Forks Township Board of Supervisors has been informed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which handles national disasters, will pay the township $12,663 for damage it suffered during Tropical Storm Irene. Finance Director Jim Farley said he recently received the check from FEMA that will be used to offset expenses incurred by the storm, which ripped through the East Coast last August. The township incurred $18,000 worth of damage from Tropical Storm Irene, Farley said. "For recovery, the amount we're getting back is pretty decent," he said. Irene wreaked havoc for Forks and Palmer townships, the Lehigh Valley and the East Coast, but…

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Easton Flood Maps to be Revised

The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) is revising local flood plain maps.

FEMA is updating its flood plain maps, and that may affect some Easton property owners, city planner Brian Gish said Wednesday evening. "They will be updating, and then voting on it to become law," Gish told the city Planning Commission. There are more than 200 properties that lie along local waterways, and the city is sending out letters notifying those property owners of the reevaluation and possible changes, he said. The changes by FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) will not only affect insurance rates in the city, but could also affect zoning, as land in a flood plain is restricted to certain uses, officials said. Public comment is being taken until March 22 and will be followed by a 90-day appeal period. City officials …

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Hurricane Irene

Flood Relief for Palmer

Residents can apply for federal assistance for Hurricane Irene damage

Palmer Township residents who suffered damage to their homes and properties in the wake of Hurricane Irene can now apply for individual federal assistance. The Northampton County Division of Emergency Management Services has alerted the township about the following provisions for possible disaster recovery assistance for Northampton County residents from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). For information on Disaster Assistance, please call: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Residents can also apply for assistance on FEMA's website at: http://www.disasterassistance.gov/ while mobile users may visit http://m.fema.gov/ FEMA said disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, …

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Lawmakers Propose Using Surplus to Fund Flood Restorations

The hope is that the use of state funds will supplement federal assistance.

By Caleb Taylor | PA Independent State lawmakers plan to spend about $270 million in state funds to pay for damages caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. To do so, lawmakers say they will use some of last year’s extra tax revenue, borrow additional funds and re-arrange up to $20 million in this year’s budget. Two bills, announced at a Monday news conference in Harrisburg by state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Pike, and state Sen. John Gordner, R-Columbia, target how this money would be spent.  Baker's bill would establish a state treasury fund from which an additional $10,000 would be given to individuals or families who meet federal guidelines for disaster assistance. Gordner's proposal would authorize a bond sale for up to $250 million …

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Hurricane Irene

Forks Cleared for FEMA Help

Hurricane Irene relief on the way through individual assistance

Relief is coming. Residents of Forks Township who suffered damage from Hurricane Irene can now apply for individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "We just received notification," said Forks Township Manager Richard Schaedter said. Throughout Hurricane Irene's wrath, Forks residents and businesses suffered through sinkholes and flooding. FEMA is now offering individual assistance to residents. He said applications may be available shortly at the township municipal building. "I think it's terrific," Schaedter said. "This should expedite the matter. It cuts out the middleman. The township now doesn't have to contact FEMA on behalf of the residents." Forks' cleanup costs from Hurricane Irene reached about $10,000, …

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