We must not forget victims of Ida damage

The scars from Hurricane Ida continue to be felt throughout this region four months after the remnants of the storm dumped torrential rain and spawned tornadoes in southeastern Pennsylvania, devastating parts of Montgomery and Chester counties.

Four Montgomery County residents died, a toll that would have been much worse if not for the dozens of heroic water rescues by area first responders.

The Schuylkill River and the Perkiomen Creek both reached record levels above flood stage, inundating areas of Mont Clare, Collegeville, Bridgeport and Norristown. Pottstown, Coatesville, Downingtown and West Chester also saw severe flooding.

And in eastern Montgomery County to Bucks, an EF-2 tornado tore an eight-mile path of destruction, tearing apart buildings and uprooting trees in Upper Dublin and Horsham.

The storm’s double whammy left many reeling in the immediate aftermath and brought state and federal officials here to survey damage and promise government aid.

Four months later, many are still trying to get back on their feet, facing a long haul. As is often the case, the hardest hit are the ones who can least afford the setback — those already living paycheck to paycheck. Replacing or repairing a home can be insurmountable for those who were already struggling to keep a roof over their heads.

In Montgomery County, many families remain displaced, in some cases because they can’t find an affordable apartment to replace the one they lost. Even with insurance, the paperwork, negotiation and inspections to get reimbursement may necessitate taking time off work and jeopardizing income and job security.

“Many of the affected are still in hotels, but a lot of people are still holed up in houses without electricity or water or living in overcrowded conditions and we’re worried about them,” said Dennis Miller, an administrator with the Montgomery County Office of Veteran Affairs, at a recent county commissioners meeting.

Montgomery County Communications Director Kelly Cofrancisco said there were 297 people in 136 households being housed in 150 hotel rooms as of

Dec. 23.

The county commissioners extended the Ida emergency disaster declaration at their last board meeting in December and approved contracts in assistance for victims that is adding up to $2.5 million in county funds.

Commissioners Chairwoman Val Arkoosh said during that Dec. 16 meeting that more than $11.2 million in federal aid “has been distributed to Montgomery County residents so far.”

“If you sustained damage during the storm, and have not yet applied, please be sure to do so as soon as possible,” she said.

In addition to the federal and county assistance, organizations and individuals have stepped up to help storm victims. A number of local organizations, such as the Upper Merion Food Cupboard, the YWCA and the Montgomery County Anti-Hunger Network, have contributed food.

Several organizations collected donations for victims in the days and weeks following the storm including the Patrician Society and Ambler Main Street. The Kiwanis Club Of Ambler held a carnival to raise funds. The Montgomery County Foundation Inc. launched the Montco Emergency Disaster Relief Fund.

“We’ve had tragic loss of life, tragic loss of property, of livelihoods, of businesses, small, medium and large, people displaced out of homes, landscapes that we no longer even recognize,” said Bridgeport Mayor Mark Barbee, a 10-year resident of the borough, in the immediate aftermath of Ida.

Today, many of those homes remain uninhabitable and the former residents are struggling to find housing they can afford.

As we begin 2022, we must not forget those who suffered loss of home, loved one or livelihood through a storm that no one could predict or prevent.

County and local governments, nonprofits and citizens of the flooded and wind-damaged communities must continue to work to restore the housing, clothing and household goods lost so quickly and harshly.

Ida came and went, but damages remain. So too, our commitment to the victims must remain without time limit until victims’ households are restored.