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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER

County flood damage recovery

Northampton County Emergency Management Services continues to work with municipal officials to gather accurate and detailed damage assessments the severe flash flooding event that took place July 16.

As of July 20, 10 total municipalities have reported municipal damages:

• • Bangor Borough (infrastructure, roadways)

• County of Northampton (bridges)

• East Bangor Borough (roadways)

• Forks Township (infrastructure, roadways)

• Lower Mount Bethel Township (roadways)

• Palmer Township

• Plainfield Township (infrastructure, roadways)

• Stockertown Borough (park, recreational trail)

• Tatamy Borough (municipal park)

• Washington Township (infrastructure, roadways)

Five municipalities have enacted Disaster Declarations due to damages sustained:

• Bangor Borough (7/17)

• Lower Mount Bethel Township (7/16)

• Plainfield Township (7/18)

• Upper Mount Bethel Township (7/20)

• Washington Township (7/17)

Preliminary Public Assistance Damage Cost Estimate:

• Accumulative (countywide) damages estimated to be $400,000 - $500,000, with multiple municipalities yet to report their estimated recovery and response costs. This estimated cost to date includes approximately $400,000 in damages to county bridges.

• The 2022-2023 Public Assistance County & State Threshold Figures state that Northampton County must accumulatively (municipalities and County) document a minimum of $1,389,502.44 in Public Assistance damages. In addition, the Commonwealth must document (all counties and state agencies) a minimum of $23,014,795 for any county or the Commonwealth to be awarded a Disaster Declaration.

Northampton County Emergency Management Services is receiving reports of residential damages (Individual Assistance) from over 105 households across ten municipalities at this time:

• Bangor Borough

• Bushkill Township

• Forks Township

• Lower Mount Bethel Township

• Nazareth Borough

• Plainfield Township

• Portland Borough

• Stockertown Borough

• Upper Mount Bethel Township

• Washington Township

Residents and/or business owners affected by the flood events experienced on Sunday, July 16, are strongly encouraged to report damage to their local municipalities and also complete the damage questionnaire on the Northampton County Emergency Management Services website http://ncem-pa.org/ to start the countywide assessment process. This will ensure that the County sends detailed damage reports to both PEMA and FEMA. All assessments received by Northampton County Emergency Management Services have been or will be entered into the Commonwealth’s damage reporter system.

A Crisis Clean-Up Hotline has also been established to connect those affected with information and possible assistance: 844-965-1386. The Crisis Clean-Up Hotline is not affiliated with any local, county, state, or federal agency.

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