LEWIS TOWNSHIP, LYCOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A wiped-out bridge on Route 14 and a damaged Trout Run volunteer fire company’s station remains nearly six months after flooding left destruction in its wake due to Tropical Storm Debby.
“Last week, it really kind of hit home that we’re kind of getting back to normal, which for some of us, it’s hard to say what normal really is.”
28/22 News spoke with Lewis Township Emergency Management Coordinator Charles O’Brien Jr and Fire Chief Nick Smith, who say they finally have answers from August 9th’s storm. Thanks to a meeting with PEMA and FEMA on Tuesday.
House fire battle in freezing temperatures
“It went very well.” “I put together the damage inventory for them and we went through them line item by line item, and I believe there were 18 of them,” said O'Brien.
The damage inventory totaling around $14 million included the township’s building that had water up to 32 inches high, along with the firehouse where its kitchen and boiler room washed away.
The firehouse currently only has two operating bays, that’s why they use two substations all the way across the parking lot adding possibly one or two minutes for their response time.”
Chief Smith points out cracks throughout the building and uneven floors upstairs that have left it unusable.
Repairs could be made, but Tuesday’s meeting also revealed the building is on a floodplain and would have to be raised at least two feet.
“It’d definitely be nice to get a new building or you know get to the next step, but we’re making do,” said Smith. “As fast as we can get it done, we’ll get it done, but it’ll be done right for the next 50 years. That’s the plan.”
He says although they’re going through the process of possibly relocating which could take years, it doesn’t stop them from responding to emergencies.
“The calls are probably the only thing that keeps us sane at this time, you know this is what we do, we’re here to help the people.”
As for what’s next for the township, O’Brien says they’ll continue working on funding streams with the state and federal agencies and keep pushing on.
Lewis township officials tell us the estimated completion of the Route 14 bridge is October but to stay up to date with both the township and fire department for updates.
