Flooding update

[jgillott]

One more side story, there was an old barn near the edge of our property not far from where the road washed out. It had fallen in before the property was purchased and we hadn't messed with it except to pull some of the barn stone from it to build a retaining wall a few years back. Anyway, we took the excavator down to it last evening to pull some stone out. It is gone. And when I say gone, I mean there is a big hole where the foundation was and every stone, board, or sign of that barn is completely vanished from the area.

 

[Wayne M.]

Good that FEMA is acting. You should make a community org and hold their feet to the fire. Let them see you're organized. So many injustices here when Sandy happened. Everyone was out to scam or for themselves.
I know we're a bunch of conservatives here, and we want as little gov as possible, but sometimes you need help. It's nice to see a ROI in your country.

 

[jgillott]

One more interesting story. Back in 1998, I was part of a tornado recovery team with my local fire department in Salisbury Somerset County. We spent the better part of a week working on and around the Amish farms helping with cleanup, etc.

Fast forward to 2016. Dozens of Amish gentlemen are here volunteering. Coincidence, maybe. But I don't think so. Just kind of makes your heart feel good that things are remembered almost 20 years later.

 

[Wayne M.]

Indeed. Out here, not Amish (I don't think they could physically get here) but a few Mennonite crews did miracles. I think there's a couple of guys still around. I've handed over a few pizzas to them.

 

[jhenderson]

I'm not a big fan of FEMA because as a vol firefighter I've been privy to the large amounts of money wasted trying to conform to govt requirements. I'm not at all surprised that the Amish and Mennonite contingent get so much done. They're rarely encumbered by fed regulation. I hope your life and the lives of your neighbors get back to some semblance of normalcy as quickly as possible.

 

[Wayne M.]

I wish the like buttons came back already.

 

[jgillott]

My brother-in-law went to the meeting with the FEMA, and PA state EMA today. They sent someone out to do a site survey this afternoon. As I expected, they have a mechanism in place to deal with loss of homes, but not necessarily things like roads etc. They will submit the paperwork for us and we will go from there. Not necessarily expecting anything, but it didn't hurt to try.

We did learn that Hanson stone (their quarry boarders our property that was damaged) is giving all of the effected homeowners one load of free stone. Then, each additional truck load will be billed at $7.50 per ton. That doesn't include delivery, but we have that worked out for tomorrow.

 

[jgillott]

Progress so far this morning

 

[jgillott]

Huge black eye for the American Red Cross in our community. Over the last week, the Red Cross, along with local charities have been providing food, clothing, and cleaning supplies to local residents. Today, I wittnessed Red Cross workers coming back to residents that they had donated to, demanding return of the items or financial compensation back to the Red Cross. Apparently, after processing their claims, the Red Cross determined that they didn't meet the financial eligibility requirements to receive Red Cross service. I wittnessed one "collection agent" first hand, got his name, and have already reported this to our state officials.

Pretty rotten for a "charity" to be asking for money back from people it is "serving". They will never get another dime from me. I didn't realize that a families income made it better when your house and most of your belongings are destroyed.

 

[jhenderson]

I'm not surprised. My family has refused to donate to the Red Cross for as long as I can remember. It all stems from my uncle being charged, by the Red Cross for items that Americans donated to the GIs while he was in the Euopean Theater during WWII. That and Million $ salaries for leadership. Just one more big bureaucracy wasting funds that could be used to help those that are in need. One more reason to keep charitable donations local.

 

[jgillott]

I only wish I could have caught it on video. Our local news would have had a field day on it.

 

[The patriot]

That's really sad.
We prepared for the storm the other day.
Nothing. Not even wind and rain, but I'm OK with that.

 

[Wayne M.]

Yea Tramplineman was on his way out here. He got called back home.

 

[Wayne M.]

I just went back and reread what happened. I've heard about the Red Cross, but it's something to hear a first hand account.

 

[jgillott]

I just went back and reread what happened. I've heard about the Red Cross, but it's something to hear a first hand account.

Update since my last post. I spent the better part of a half hour talking directly to our state senator. I have been friends with Pat for years and he was extremely unhappy to be talking to me about this. Apparently, he had received several complaints earlier in the day. And not that he didn't believe the others, but hearing it directly from a friend of 35+ years holds some weight. No politician wants to hear of these kind of things happening in their area. I guarantee you that someone from the Red Cross is going to be having a very unpleasant meeting with a senator tomorrow morning.

 

[mfurrh55]

Huge black eye for the American Red Cross in our community. Over the last week, the Red Cross, along with local charities have been providing food, clothing, and cleaning supplies to local residents. Today, I wittnessed Red Cross workers coming back to residents that they had donated to, demanding return of the items or financial compensation back to the Red Cross. Apparently, after processing their claims, the Red Cross determined that they didn't meet the financial eligibility requirements to receive Red Cross service. I wittnessed one "collection agent" first hand, got his name, and have already reported this to our state officials.

Pretty rotten for a "charity" to be asking for money back from people it is "serving". They will never get another dime from me. I didn't realize that a families income made it better when your house and most of your belongings are destroyed.

i work as a volunteer for southern baptist Texas convention, and we help out for free, I have seen Red Cross at work first hand and we have had disputes with them for years for their unwillingness to treat homeowners fair, they tried this same crap in Louisiana last week when I was there, something needs done about them , Monte

 

[jgillott]

i work as a volunteer for southern baptist Texas convention, and we help out for free, I have seen Red Cross at work first hand and we have had disputes with them for years for their unwillingness to treat homeowners fair, they tried this same crap in Louisiana last week when I was there, something needs done about them , Monte

I don't know how you do this all the time. The frustration of dealing with these agencies is mind boggling.

 

[Blu-meanie]

I have heard horror stories years ago about the red cross. Yes they do want the money back and will do anything to get it. I quit donating to them over thirty years ago because of this.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

jgillot,

Update? I completely missed anything about the flooding, and this thread.

Our thoughts and prayers with you. Let us know.

 

[jgillott]

jgillot,

Update? I completely missed anything about the flooding, and this thread.

Our thoughts and prayers with you. Let us know.

Things are moving along as well as could be expected. The schools we able to reopen this week. Water and power are back on. There is still a lot of work to be done, but it is going well.

Since you have been here, let me give you some landmarks to describe the extent of the damage. Rt. 119 was flooded from just south of 982 (just beyond the gas stations and the large Ford dealer) down almost to the Subway and KFC restaurants. Then flooding started again off to the right of 119 south from near Advance Auto Parts to the Right Aid. The Dutch Bottom part of the city near the ball fields was hit very hard. Almost all the houses in there were either destroyed or heavily damaged. 119 itself was damaged, but they have it fixed well enough to be open 2 lanes in each direction.

Breakneck rd from Rich Hill rd to the hill before Tanyard Hollow road was just destroyed. There are still sections of the road that are missing along with complete destruction of many of the houses. Again, the best news is that nobody died or was seriously injured.

If you Google Connellsville flooding, there are a ton of pictures and videos online.