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Thursday, September 23, 2004     Page: 5A

CALLING ALL CONTRACTORS – Are you a certified contractor? Are you willing
to donate time to help people assess their flood damage – for a good cause
instead of another job?
   
We’re looking for contractors to volunteer to help people with decisions on
repairs, without having to worry that the work is unnecessary.
    If you’re willing to donate time, please call me at 829-7162 (or e-mail me
at [email protected]). We’ll probably ask you to show your license, and then
we’ll thank you profusely for your community spirit.
   
Hopefully – we’ve had two volunteers already – we’ll get enough help to
divide up coverage among areas that need guidance.
   
We know this won’t cover all of our neighbors who have suffered losses in
the recent flood, but maybe we can help some who have difficulty getting out
and about.
   
After all, we can rely on our government or rely on our neighbors. We think
our neighbors do better work. Thank you.
   
Allison Walzer
   

   
AROUND NEPA
   

   

   
DUPONT – Borough officials are asking residents with flood damage to
contact the borough office at 655-6216 as soon as possible. Those residents
may also call to arrange pickup of flood-damaged items today and tomorrow.
   
HANOVER TWP. – Township officials plan to begin picking up flood-damaged
items starting today. To request the service, call 825-1273. Only
flood-damaged items will be accepted.
   
HARRISBURG State Department of Environmental Protection officials are
urging flood victims with private drinking-water wells to disinfect their well
if the well head was covered with water or the area around the well head was
flooded recently.
   
In addition, flood victims with private drinking-water wells should
continue to boil their water for drinking and cooking for at least one minute
at a rolling boil, until the well has been disinfected and test results
indicate that coliform bacteria are not present.
   
DEP is providing free water-testing kits to residents who rely on wells or
springs for their drinking water in counties that have been declared disaster
areas. To get a kit, or more information about disinfecting wells, call
826-2511.
   
HARRISBURG State Department of Environmental Protection officials are
reminding residents in flooded areas to remove standing water from their
property whenever possible to reduce mosquito breeding and the threat of West
Nile virus. For more information, go to www.westnile.state.pa.us.
   
LUZERNE COUNTY – The conservation and boil advisories for Pennsylvania
American Water customers have been lifted.
   
LUZERNE COUNTY – Luzerne County Road and Bridge Department officials plan
to keep two bridges across the Susquehanna River closed to traffic until they
are inspected for flood damage.
   
The Water Street bridge linking Pittston and West Pittston and the
Nanticoke-West Nanticoke bridge will remain closed until the river level falls
to about 10 feet. At 10 feet, it’s safe for divers to inspect underwater
supports.
   
LUZERNE COUNTY – Residents whose homes or businesses were damaged by
weekend flooding are encouraged to contact the Federal Emergency Management
Agency to register for disaster assistance. Call (800) 621-3362.
   
LUZERNE COUNTY – Residents can get the latest information on recovery
resources through the county Web site: www.luzernecounty.org. Go to the
Emergency Management Agency link and select “emergency preparedness,” then
“disaster recovery.”
   
LUZERNE COUNTY – PG Energy officials said 2,500 homes lost natural gas
services because of the flooding. People who have replaced controls on their
natural gas equipment, such as water heaters and furnaces, and are ready to
have their service restored should call (800) 432-8017
   
LUZERNE COUNTY – U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski is seeking money to pay for
repairs to public infrastructure and buildings destroyed or damaged in the
flooding.
   
Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, on Wednesday sent a letter to President Bush,
saying there was significant infrastructure damage caused in one of the
largest floods in county history.
   
“Local governments do not have the money that it will take to repair all
of the damage,” Kanjorski said.
   
The amount of money being sought is not specified in the letter, but
Kanjorski said the damage in Northeastern Pennsylvania numbered in the
millions.
   
Monetary assistance for emergency debris removal and essential public
safety activities was previously approved.
   
Gov. Ed Rendell also has requested federal assistance to address damages on
public and private land in the region.
   
PLAINS TWP. Permit fees for water damage will be waived for residences and
businesses impacted by flooding. However, applications must be completed and
contractors must be licensed by Plains Township to take advantage of the
waiver.
   
Flood debris pickup is available. Call the municipal office this week at
829-3439 to register for the service.
   
WEST PITTSTON – Penn State Cooperative Extension can offer information
about food safety, restoring water supplies and septic systems, clean-up and
repair of structures and household items, pest control, insurance and tax
issues. Call 825-1701 or go to www.cas.psu.edu.
   
WILKES-BARRE – There will be no lawn-waste pickup in the city this week due
to the flooding. Other pickups will continue as scheduled. In the flood zone,
victims are allowed to put damaged items on their front lawn for pickup.
   
WILKES-BARRE – King’s College has offered the use of the former Luzerne
County upper courthouse parking lot on River Street for residents visiting the
courthouse.
   
County officials estimate it will take two weeks to clean and repair the
courthouse parking garage on Water Street. More than 7 feet of water inundated
the first level.
   
King’s College has leased the upper courthouse lot since Dec. 30, 2003.
Until further notice, residents coming to the courthouse on business or for
jury duty may park in the upper lot. They are asked to enter and exit from the
lot’s north end.
   

   
ROAD CLOSURES
   

   

   
A number of state roads continue to be closed in the area, according to the
state Department of Transportation. Here’s the latest list:
   
LUZERNE COUNTY:
   

   
State Route 2045 (South Main Road) closed because of damage to stone arch,
Mountain Top.
   
WYOMING COUNTY:
   

   
State Route 267, just north of Meshoppen, long-term closure expected.
   
State Route 1001, Tunkhannock Township, south of Lake Carey, long-term
closure expected.
   
State Route 3005 (Eaton Road), Eaton Township.
   
State Route 4006 (Lacey Street), Laceyville, closed near the intersection
with state Route 3001 (Church Street).
   
To get updates on closed roads, go to PennDOT’s www.neparoads.com Web site.
   

   
HELPFUL NUMBERS:
   

   

   
Luzerne County Rumor Line: (800) 821-3716
   
Luzerne County Emergency Management Agency: 820-4400
   
PPL Utilities: (800) 342-5775
   
UGI Utilities: 819-4844
   
PG Energy: 829-3461 or (800) 432-8017
   
Pennsylvania American Water: (800) 565-7292
   
American Red Cross: 823-7161
   

   
TIPS
   

   
Tips from the state Department of Environmental Protection for safe flood
cleanup:
   

   
Discard any food that came in contact with flood water. Any beverage
bottles with twist caps that were underwater should also be thrown out.
   
Dishes and utensils should be thoroughly cleaned with water and chlorine
bleach before using.
   
Any frozen foods that have partially or completely defrosted should be
used immediately or discarded. Perishable foods kept in a refrigerator that
has been off for more than four hours or has warmed to more than 45 degrees
should be thrown away.
   
Residents should disinfect everything that the flood water has touched.
Residents should scrub down walls and any other smooth, hard surfaces that
flood water touched with a water and 2 percent chlorine bleach solution. Two
to three capfuls of chlorine bleach to a bucket of water are recommended.
   
State Department of Health officials say flood victims should protect
themselves while cleaning up.
   

   
Cover your skin with gloves and boots. Human skin offers good protection
against contaminants and bacteria, but it never hurts to add another layer of
protection, said Richard McGarvey, state Department of Health spokesman.
   
Tetanus, or lockjaw, can result from exposure to bacteria in flood waters
and residual mud but is only a concern if someone suffers a puncture wound or
exposes an open cut to contaminants.
   
“If you’ve had (a) tetanus shot in the past 10 years, you have nothing to
worry about,” McGarvey said.
   
State Attorney General Jerry Pappert is warning consumers to be wary of
flood-related scams by fly-by-night contractors or bogus charity appeals.
Pappert advises:
   

   
Beware of anyone who claims to be certified or affiliated with a state or
federal emergency program.
   
Do not give a contractor a large down payment. In most cases, a down
payment of one-third of the total cost is appropriate, with future payments
due as work progresses.
   
Never hire a contractor who doesn’t have a local phone number or address
or who refuses to provide estimates. Check customer satisfaction with the
Better Business Bureau.
   
Avoid hiring contractors who go door-to-door making on-the-spot offers to
make repairs at an unusually low cost. Reputable contractors will not pressure
you to make an immediate decision.
   
Report suspicious activity to local police or Pappert’s office at (800)
441-2555 or go to www.attorneygeneral.gov.
   
If a charity does not sound familiar, you can check its status by calling
the state Department of State at (800) 732-0999.