Greene County gains federal disaster assistance
Gov. Edward Rendell announced Tuesday that President Bush approved his request for federal Individual Assistance (IA) for Greene County, making it the 26th county in the state to receive federal disaster assistance in the aftermath of the remnants of Hurricane Ivan. Individual Assistance is provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
“Individual Assistance, coordinated by FEMA, can include grants to help a pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other serious disaster-related expenses,” said David M. Sanko, director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. “Low-interest loans for the U.S. Small Business Administration also will be available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.”
Residents and business owners can begin the disaster application process by calling 1-800-621 3326 (FEMA) or 1-800-462-7585 for hearing and speech impaired 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
Greene County Emergency Services Director Jeff Marshall said federal assistance is exactly what the townspeople and businesses need.
He said 20 displaced families slept in hotels over the weekend and the Red Cross set up a shelter in the 4-H building at the fairgrounds Monday for those unable to return to their homes.
Federal aid should have been provided after the Nov. 19 flood, even though it pales in comparison to Friday’s flood.
“They’re not even comparable,” he said.
“This flood beat that flood by two feet. Two floods of the century within 10 months of each other,” Waynesburg Police Chief Tim Hawfield said. “People who never saw water before, saw water this time.”
He estimated that at least two dozen businesses and many more residents were impacted in varying degrees by the storm.
“Not just flood water. It was corrupted with diesel fuel and sewage. The ironic thing is, if it rains it will wash a lot of this away,” he said.
Another problem is people taking items the flood washed away from homes and businesses.
“They’re taking advantage of property that belongs to others that the water has removed from various locations and winds up on a creek bed or wherever,” Hawfield said. “People coming down to take advantage of others’ misfortune. That’s rather offensive. That’s why I call them parasites. They’re just trying to pick up what they can for free.”
Bonnie Smouse of the Salvation Army said the misfortune she saw broke her heart.
“I’ve lived here all my life and I’ve never seen the water as high as it was this time. And then to come to town and realize the same people hit by the November flood were seeing twice as much damage – in broke my heart,” Smouse said.
She and an assistant staffed the East Franklin Grange hall and took food to St. Ann’s Church in Waynesburg, which served as a shelters Friday night.
After the water receded, the people staying at the shelters were taken to local hotels. The organization, which is part of the United Way, is still providing meals for those who have not been able to return home.
Agency volunteers served 297 meals over the weekend and still have sandwiches available from noon to 6 p.m. at the worship and service center, she said.
They distributed food and cleaning supplies to 34 families at the New Freeport fire hall and went door to door offering help in the hardest hit area like Elm and Lincoln streets.
Kevin McElligott of the Greene County Human Service Department said his staff is reaching out to people and offering counseling to those who want to talk to someone.
“We’re still doing outreach in Waynesburg, talking to folks, trying to gauge their level of anxiety. We have sent counselors into the field to talk to families,” McElligott said. “In Waynesburg, based on the fact we just had a flood last November and some people just got new carpet and furnaces, there were people in a state of shock in regard to their property.”
The Greene County United Way board of directors allocated $5,000 in grants for food and emergency housing, Executive Director Amy Widdup said, noting that the Salvation Army will administer the grants.
The officials said churches and students and staff from Waynesburg College have been volunteering to help residents clean up.
“It’s kind of nice to see such cooperation and support to help out those people who lost so much,” Hawfield said.
“It’s the little guy that’s helping out. It’s neighbor helping neighbor, business helping business. It’s wonderful that people have a caring spirit,” Smouse said.
To donate money or volunteer, people can call the United Way at 724-852-1009 or the Salvation Army at 724-852-1479.
Assistance is also available by calling the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh at 1-800-321-2273.