WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The city of Wilkes-Barre is now better prepared for a flood.
The city partnered with the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority to put a facility building at Kirby Park to hold flood walls and house the tools needed to close the Market Street Bridge during a flood.
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This facility is approximately a quarter mile away from the bridge to ensure crews can be there within minutes in the case of an emergency.
"It is a quicker response time to install the walls, which is great for the flood protection part of the river. You never know when you may need this; it's closer, not being stored outside. It is closer to the market street bridge where it can be installed on the wilkes-barre side and the Kingston side, so it is a double benefit," Wilkes-Barre City Mayor George Brown said.
The new facility also has a common area, public restrooms, and storage for the city's Department of Public Works equipment.
