Hundreds of victims of last week’s flooding in Lower Bucks showed up Tuesday at Keystone Elementary School for the first day of the county’s one-stop resource center.
Dozens of representatives from state, county and local governments, as well as regional nonprofits, lined the Croydon school’s cafeteria starting at 2 p.m. Within two hours, more than 300 people had visited the Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) to report flooding damage, or to seek support and answers.
“It’s very difficult to see so many people in need of help,” said Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia. “Their lives were uprooted. My heart goes out to all of them, and we want them to know that we will respond.”
PHOTO: Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia, left, speaks Tuesday with flood victims at a Multi-Agency Resource Center at Keystone Elementary School in Croydon, Bristol Township.
The resource center will open for a second day from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, again at Keystone Elementary, 1800 Keystone Street, Croydon.
The MARC was set up by Bucks County Emergency Management in partnership with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to serve victims affected by flooding last week when severe storms swept through the county’s lower end.
PHOTO: Hundreds of people affected by flooding last week in Lower Bucks descended Tuesday on Keystone Elementary School in Croydon, where Bucks County Emergency Management Agency and numerous partner agencies set up a one-stop resource center for flood victims.
As of Monday evening, Bucks County EMA had received some 780 reports of damage to homes and businesses in Bensalem, Bristol Borough and Bristol Township.
Residents at the resource event who waited in line expressed concerns about finding new housing and getting financial support.
In addition to municipal and legislative representation, participating agencies include:
- American Red Cross
- Bucks County Animal Response Team
- Bucks County Area Agency on Aging
- Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services Agency
- Bucks County Disaster Crisis Outreach and Referral Team
- Bucks County Emergency Management Agency
- Bucks County Family Services
- Bucks County Health Department
- Bucks County HUB
- Bucks County Human Services
- Bucks County Intermediate Unit Head Start Program
- Bucks County Office of Military Affairs
- Bucks County Opportunity Council
- City of Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management
- Legal Aid of Southeastern PA
- PA Department of Environmental Protection
- PA Department of Transportation
- PA Office of Attorney General
- PA Emergency Management Agency
- PA Housing Finance Agency
- PA Human Services
- PA Insurance Commission
- PA Labor and Industry
- Salvation Army
- Southeast Volunteers Organization Active in Disaster (VOAD)
- United Way of Bucks County
- YWCA
PHOTO: Commissioner Bob Harvie, left, speaks Tuesday at Keystone Elementary School in Croydon with victims of last week's floods in Lower Bucks.
Bucks County Housing Link is able to assist those impacted by the flooding who do not have other housing options. For assistance or more information, call 1-800-810-4434.
Officials continue to urge residents and business owners to report storm damage to municipal officials using the phone numbers below.
- Bensalem Township – 215-633-3741
- Bristol Borough – 215-788-3828, ext. 12
- Bristol Township – 267-812-2938
Anyone who repairs damage is encouraged to record their efforts with photographs, documents and receipts.
Municipal officials should report damage to Bucks County Emergency Management by emailing [email protected] or calling 215-340-8700.
Media Contact: Charlotte Reese, [email protected], 215-348-6430