Stout, Solobay & Daley Announce Flood Protection Grants

HARRISBURG, March 11, 2009 – State Sen. J. Barry Stout, Rep. Tim Solobay and Rep. Peter Daley today announced that Washington County will receive over $150,000 in state flood prevention grants for Washington County.

“Floods can cause communities to suffer millions of dollars in property damages and vital roadways can become impassable,” Stout said. “Preventing and limiting the damage from floods is a great investment and will hopefully lessen the need for flood relief.”

Stout (D-Washington) said that West Bethlehem Township in Washington County will receive a grant of $65,000 to be used for excavation, hauling and disposing of sediment deposits.

“There have been flooding problems in the past in our area,” Daley (D-Washington) said. “This additional funding will not only provide the means to continue the clean up, but also taking preventive measures to alleviate flood damage in the future.”

Canonsburg Borough in Washington County will receive more than $36,700 in state funding to install steel barbs and remove gravel bar on the banks of Chartiers Creek, Stout said.

"Flooding is an important issue since Pennsylvania is one of the most flood-prone states in the nation, averaging a major flood every 15 months. When a flood hits, not only are people's lives in danger, but they can lose possessions that have both monetary and sentimental value," Solobay (D-Washington) said. "I am pleased these grants are available to help protect the people of Washington County."

Stout continued that a grant of $27,300 for Washington County will be used to repair the emergency spillway, remove sediment from the basin area, fill seed and mulch ruts and install a culvert pipe.

Washington County will also receive a grant of $21,000 to be used to purchase a remote control slope mower, Stout said.
A flood grant can be awarded if a flood protection project is operated and maintained in acceptable condition and is ready to function as designed during a high water event. The grants are administered under the state Department of Environmental Protection.

###