2005 News

April 4, 2005
COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES COORDINATES FLOOD RESPONSE
IN BUCKS COUNTY
Commissioners, Governor Declare Disaster Emergency

For More Information, Check Out This PEMA Video

Bucks County officials including Commissioners James Cawley and Sandra Miller, Chief Operating Officer David Sanko, and Emergency Management Director John Dougherty were joined by Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Adrian King and FEMA representative Jack Shuback at a press conference in Yardley Borough today.

The commissioners emphasized their appreciation of all the emergency responders throughout the county working diligently to protect the public safety. Throughout the weekend, the Bucks County Emergency Management Agency maintained a watch on rising floodwaters affecting the Neshaminy Creek and Delaware River, coordinated services with threatened municipalities from Riegelsville to Yardley and launched a series of emergency activities.

As the Neshaminy Creek rose, the county opened its Emergency Operations Center in Ivyland at 1:30 p.m., Saturday. As a result, the Bucks County commissioners declared a disaster emergency and opened emergency shelters in Pennwood Middle School, Lower Makefield; Palisades High School, Bedminster; and New Hope-Solebury High School, New Hope. The American Red Cross operates the shelters.

Gov. Ed Rendell declared a disaster emergency in Bucks County and nine other
Pennsylvania
counties yesterday.
Emergency
declarations
involved the following hard-hit municipalities
along the Delaware River: Riegelsville,
Tinicum, Bridgeton, Plumsteadville, Solebury
Township, New Hope, Upper Makefield,
Yardley and Morrisville boroughs. Within this area approximately 2,500 to 3,000 people were evacuated, beginning Saturday afternoon.

John Dougherty, county emergency management coordinator, activated the Community Alert Network (CAN) Saturday and nearly 600 residents along the Neshaminy were notified of an impending flood. Authorities reported the Neshaminy Creek, which was expected to surpass the 9-foot flood stage, crested at 13.5 feet at 2:30 a.m. Saturday. The creek waters subsided throughout the day, falling to 6-feet. No damage was reported,

according to Dougherty.

The Delaware River continued to rise and was expected to crest at 33.5 feet at Riegelsville at 4 a.m. today, 11.5 feet above flood stage. In New Hope, the river was expected to crest at 19.5 feet at 6 a.m., 6.5 feet above flood stage. The Delaware crested at 26 feet in Trenton, 6-feet above flood stage at noon today.

Dougherty estimated the damage from the weekend storm will surpass flooding that
resultedfrom the storm, Ivan, in September
2004. The Emergency Operations Center in
Ivyland continues monitor and coordinate
emergency activities.

PEMA Director Adrian King speaks along side Commissioners Cawley and Miller, C.O.O. David Sanko, and other representatives of PEMA and FEMA.