Shapiro backing flood relief loans; Shade Township bridge closed

Yahoo

22-05-2025

CAIRNBROOK – The May 13 flooding will close another Somerset County bridge.
And Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Wednesday his office will support an effort to help flood-battered Somerset County residents and businesses acquire Small Business Association aid.
'Committed to helping'
Shapiro's support is another crucial step into acquiring multiple funding resources, emergency officials said Wednesday.
For county residents impacted by the May 13 flood to receive low interest repair loans, Shapiro made a formal request to the U.S. Small Business Administration for the final clearance to make financial aid available.
'The flooding in southwestern Pennsylvania has been devastating, and the Shapiro administration has been on the ground providing support every day since the storm struck.' said Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Randy Padfield.
Members of Padfield's staff have been conducting assessments in eight Somerset County communities that declared disasters as a precursor to the possibility of additional state support. That's included visits to Meyersdale, Garrett and Elk Lick Township, among others.
'Never seen it this bad': As Garrett strives to ease flood woes, council's own property among hard-hit areas
For flood-battered Garrett Borough, one of the hardest-hit areas was the borough government's own backyard. The storm last week turned Garrett Community Park into a lake and the borough's office into a downstream drain.
'The Shapiro administration remains committed to helping Pennsylvanians recover and rebuild stronger than before, which is why we are working to secure federal low-interest loans as a tool to ensure homeowners and business owners have the support they need and can recoup unforeseen losses,' Padfield added.
If approved, qualified renters, homeowners, private nonprofits and businesses within disaster declared areas could receive up to $500,000 in low-interest loans for residential repair and replacement. Loans up to $100,000 are possible for homeowners and renters to replace or repair personal property.
Businesses could receive larger loans – up to $2 million – 'to cover disaster losses not fully covered by insurance.'
Somerset County commissioners outline disaster recovery fund plan, make $10,000 donation
The Somerset County commissioners will rely on an advisory board and eight flood-damaged communities to decide how a new disaster recovery fund is spent, they said Tuesday.
Somerset County Emergency Management officials estimated earlier this week that at least six businesses reported first-floor flood damage in the southern part of the county.
Somerset County EMA Director Joel Landis said his office was awaiting updates on a decision.
County-owned bridge closed
The deteriorating Shade Township bridge was already in line for replacement in the coming years, but last week's storm fast-tracked its closure, the county's EADS Group Engineer Andy Fedorko said.
An area resident reported concerns about the span, which carries Whispering Pines Road over Dark Shade Creek, he said.
A follow-up inspection showed one of the bridge's stone mansonary abutments further deteriorated from storm flooding, damaging mortar and causing additional material to break loose, he said.
It made a bad problem worse on a bridge that previous saw its weight limit decreased to 3 tons due to preexisting concerns, Fedorko said.
PHOTO GALLERY | 'We can't do it alone': Garrett hopes for help as state teams survey flood-hit areas in precursor to possible aid
Don Hostetler's family bar survived Prohibition and generations of change in Garrett. On Monday, Hostetler was trying to figure out how Dub's Bar and Grill will survive four feet of floodwater from Buffalo Creek.
Rockingham is one of several county bridges that have been closed over the past two years due to maintenance needs – most of which are set for repair or replacement projects.
It's also one of at least three local bridges – county, state or township – that are now out of service due to damage inflicted by May 13 flooding. Further south, an emergency action plan is underway to build a temporary bridge in Boynton to enable U.S. Route 219 traffic to continue through the corridor.
Design work for a new bridge at the Rockingham site was already in progress, and Fedorko said construction could start in fall 2026.
Detours for the closure will be minimal, he said.
'Resource' support
A pop-up emergency 'resource center' announced Monday for Somerset County will include a list of state agencies able to answer questions – and potentially provide support for flood-hit residents.
Flood relief resource center planned in Meyersdale
Somerset County is planning a one-stop shop to connect residents of hard-hit communities with flood relief resources.
The resource center will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at Meyersdale Volunteer Fire Department, 202 Main St., Meyersdale.
Landis and county emergency management staff organized the resource center to make it easier for Somerset County residents to get support, regardless of their post-flooding issues.
Padfield said state agencies are joining the three-day event, recognizing it's a 'crucial time' for many people.
Some of the resources provided by organizations staffing the resource center can help with replacing vital documents such as birth certificates and driver's licenses, checking insurance coverage for damages, trauma/crisis response and mental health resources, state officials said.
Others can provide benefits and disabilities support, tax assistance, tips on how to avoid scams, and other recovery information.
'Key county agencies will be on hand to provide our residents with access to needed programs and services during this critical period of recovery,' Somerset County President Commissioner Brian Fochtman said. 'We are pleased to work in partnership with the commonwealth to ensure they receive all of the help they need.'
PHOTO GALLERY | Somerset County residents reeling as floodwaters recede; officials document damage to provide aid
Fueled by a full day of intense rain, the rapidly rising Casselman River filled Mark Smith's Mount Davis Road auto shop and nearby homes. Officials toured hard-hit areas Wednesday, going from property to property to document damage.
Pennsylvania's departments of Aging, Agriculture and Health, Environmental Protection, Human Services and Transportation are attending.
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department and Office of Attorney General also will have representatives at the center.