Commissioners reinforce Ida disaster declaration

Residents urged to report damage to secure aid

NORRISTOWN >> Montgomery County officials formalized an emergency disaster declaration on Thursday, as the remnants of Hurricane Ida left the region reeling and recovering.

The storm came through the area with a powerful force on Sept. 1. The order was initially issued on Sept. 2.

“We did not in any way delay in declaring a disaster emergency here in the county,” said Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Val Arkoosh.

The legislation would permit the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety to organize response efforts in the wake of the storm.

Solicitor Josh Stein added that the order “allows us to essentially cut through the red tape, get contracts in place for debris management and other services in place to help the residents.”

It was unanimously approved. The trio of Montgomery

County commissioners all expressed their appreciation to first responders and personnel as the storm pounded much of the area with rainfall, heavy wind, flooding, and instances of severe weather.

“They saved many lives,” said Montgomery County Commissioners’ Vice Chairman Ken Lawrence.

“Our first responders and other emergency personnel have been working nonstop since last Wednesday, and [I] just want to thank everyone for the incredible work that they’ve been doing across our county,” Arkoosh said.

“I’d also like to ask the entire Montgomery County community to remember that while some areas in the community just dealt with water in the basement or branches down, some of our municipalities were hit very hard, and people have been displaced, especially in Bridgeport, Norristown, Horsham, Upper Dublin, and areas along the Perkiomen Creek,” Lawrence said. “And while it’s been incredible to see our entire county community rally to help, just because waters have receded, and some debris has been cleared doesn’t mean that neighbors won’t need our assistance in the weeks and months to come.”

In a visit to Schwenksville and Marlborough Township, Commissioner Joe Gale said he witnessed “the damage and the debris everywhere,” adding that “people were hit very hard” by this storm.

Gov. Tom Wolf visited the county twice in the days following the storm. He was in Horsham and Upper Dublin townships on Sept. 3 surveying damage from an EF-2 tornado that ripped through parts of area. On Wednesday, Sept. 8, Wolf went to Bridgeport and heard about the devastating floodwaters from the Schuylkill River that plagued the borough.

“We are hopeful that we will soon have a disaster declaration from FEMA,” she said. “This will be critical in order to provide direct financial assistance to individuals that were impacted.”

The Montgomery County Intermediate Unit hosted a Multi-Agency Resource Center this week, providing information and services to those affected by the storm.

Arkoosh urged anyone who sustained damage to their home or business to report it to their local townships and the county. For more information, visit montcopa.org/ida.

“This will help make sure we get all the funding that we are entitled to into this county as a result of this storm,” Arkoosh said.

As the recovery efforts continue more than one week after the storm, Arkoosh announced a partnership between the county government and the Montgomery County Foundation to launch an “emergency disaster fund.” Fundraising efforts would go to local nonprofit organizations to assist area residents with a variety of items including housing, food, gasoline and other items.

“I just want to thank everyone who’s been actively engaged in helping our communities recover. We have seen so many folks in our community step up to help their neighbors and they’re doing everything they can to make this recovery go as smoothly and quickly as possible,” she said.