tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post115920084720773495..comments2024-03-28T19:03:28.661-04:00Comments on Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Are Gov't Officials Sandbagging Us About Local Flooding?Bernie O'Harehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1159321452355732852006-09-26T21:44:00.000-04:002006-09-26T21:44:00.000-04:00Damien, the Great City of Allentown should put you...Damien, the Great City of Allentown should put you on its payroll!Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1159321245122132282006-09-26T21:40:00.000-04:002006-09-26T21:40:00.000-04:00You bring up an interesting point about the homes ...You bring up an interesting point about the homes around the lakes in New York. Ironically, the same thing may be stopping action in New York as here in PA, land developers.<BR/><BR/>This is tough one, common sense would tell residents here that the easier fight would be here in PA, where they vote. Battling a single government agency (or two) like the Delaware River Authority and NY Water may be easier than challenging the rights of all of the unimaginative cul-de-sac developers of PA.<BR/><BR/>Although I am convinced that is what should happen in the long-run, I am not convinced it ever will. The reservoir rout also will yield immediate results, but is not a long term solution in my opinion.<BR/><BR/>This is a tough one, Time to move upstream to the Great City of Allentown ;) !!!DBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10227343439146063027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1159317709911950662006-09-26T20:41:00.000-04:002006-09-26T20:41:00.000-04:00PaProgressive, I'm fixing your link now, too.PaProgressive, I'm fixing your link now, too.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1159317383985732572006-09-26T20:36:00.000-04:002006-09-26T20:36:00.000-04:00PaProgressive, You're right! Water is not absorbed...PaProgressive, You're right! Water is not absorbed that well by asphalt or concrete. It's a serious problem and it needs to be addressed, not ignored.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1159317059166618442006-09-26T20:30:00.000-04:002006-09-26T20:30:00.000-04:00We keep paving ground and then wondering why the r...We keep paving ground and then wondering why the rain doesn't soak into it instead of running off and causing flooding. Duh??? A lot of this is being caused by new patterns of runoff caused by development.PA progressivehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00470386530925484128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1159316047557926502006-09-26T20:14:00.000-04:002006-09-26T20:14:00.000-04:00Spike, If it makes you feel any better, you can ta...Spike, If it makes you feel any better, you can take consolation in the fact that Angle's measure would never have passed w/o help from Dems. <BR/><BR/>If you get Ron away from partisan politics and into the business of governing, he is very effective. Very few have his insight or quick grasp of situations, like him or not.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1159315421489366592006-09-26T20:03:00.000-04:002006-09-26T20:03:00.000-04:00Damien, I believe that Charlie Dent conducted some...Damien, I believe that Charlie Dent conducted some sort of tax force at Lafayette not long ago, but not much happened there. Ron Angle, the Evil One, jumped on the idea of lowering reservoir levels. It's not a "silver bullett," as Rendell is wont to say, but that's something that can be done right away. Dredging and levees take much more time and money. <BR/><BR/>Angle attempted to get a council committee to meet with the agencies that are supposed to be working on flood mitigation, but they completely dissed him. <BR/><BR/>He actually wanted to subpoena them, but Ann McHale was having none of that, at least for now. For one thing, how does a county official subpoena a fed? <BR/><BR/>But right after adopting a resolutiuon to try again, the Express Times reported that these agencies want $500,000 for a study,which will take at least one year to complete. Does that make sense in the face of such an immediate problem? <BR/><BR/>I really do believe that most government officials are sandbagging us instead of the river. And Northampton County Council, as disfunctional as it may be in so many respects, spoke with one voice for once. <BR/><BR/>But nothing is being done on ourt side of the Delaware, Damien. You're suggestion that we take responsibility and start making our own plans is very well taken.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1159313907446056452006-09-26T19:38:00.002-04:002006-09-26T19:38:00.002-04:00I think it I very abrasive for officials in New Yo...I think it I very abrasive for officials in New York to not consider maintaining a lower water level in their reservoirs, if not inhumane.<BR/><BR/>While lowering the resiviors would help minimize the flooding, we should not let it distract us from the probable cause of it, outward growth and sprawl instead of planned growth an urban renewal. <BR/><BR/>This effort should be two pronged to show the officials in New York we are taking responsibility and we will not be back in 30 years demanding they lower levels again to hold back all water every time it rains in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos.<BR/><BR/>To my knowledge, nothing is being done to address this issue on this side of the Delaware, am I correct Burnie?DBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10227343439146063027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1159313897557613542006-09-26T19:38:00.000-04:002006-09-26T19:38:00.000-04:00I think it I very abrasive for officials in New Yo...I think it I very abrasive for officials in New York to not consider maintaining a lower water level in their reservoirs, if not inhumane.<BR/><BR/>While lowering the resiviors would help minimize the flooding, we should not let it distract us from the probable cause of it, outward growth and sprawl instead of planned growth an urban renewal. <BR/><BR/>This effort should be two pronged to show the officials in New York we are taking responsibility and we will not be back in 30 years demanding they lower levels again to hold back all water every time it rains in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos.<BR/><BR/>To my knowledge, nothing is being done to address this issue on this side of the Delaware, am I correct Burnie?DBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10227343439146063027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1159288006510350982006-09-26T12:26:00.000-04:002006-09-26T12:26:00.000-04:00DG, Lst does make good points. People who live rig...DG, Lst does make good points. People who live right next to a big river like the Delaware need to think seriously about moving. On the other hand, the flooding has extended far beyond river banks. Three 100 yr floods in 2 years is a bit much. <BR/><BR/>I agree there's no "silver bullet," but lowering reservoir levels will certainly help the situation. <BR/><BR/>As of now, no action has been taken at all. That's inexcusable. And I can't believe the lack of respect shown to a local government. Angle actually wanted to issue subpoenas, but Council wouldn't go that far, at least not yet.Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1159287560977450302006-09-26T12:19:00.000-04:002006-09-26T12:19:00.000-04:00In reality this is just overflow from a secret pri...In reality this is just overflow from a secret prison we maintain for terrorists. The excess H2O is due to the CIA using the non-torture method of water boarding.<BR/>Seriously though, Lst makes a good point. But that doesn't excuse the release of water from upriver.<BR/>dgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1159280382096625372006-09-26T10:19:00.000-04:002006-09-26T10:19:00.000-04:00People don't mind seeing homes float by. But don't...People don't mind seeing homes float by. But don't mess with their Big Macs!Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1159280228011441302006-09-26T10:17:00.000-04:002006-09-26T10:17:00.000-04:00Bernie, the last time you posted the Mc Donalds Is...Bernie, the last time you posted the Mc Donalds Island picture a near riot broke out!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1159279000331116282006-09-26T09:56:00.000-04:002006-09-26T09:56:00.000-04:00Lst, I think that's part of the answer. But so is ...Lst, I think that's part of the answer. But so is lowering reservoir levels. And why are government officials not moving more quickly to deal with what is obviously a crisis?Bernie O'Harehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756311150988957401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9299655.post-1159278662613801972006-09-26T09:51:00.000-04:002006-09-26T09:51:00.000-04:00Though I feel bad for some of the people who live ...Though I feel bad for some of the people who live along the river, many know that they live in federally designated flood plains and we keep bailing them out financially. <BR/><BR/>We need to create laws tht say that you can't live in a flood plain and that if you do, then you bare the resposniblity for damages.LSTresidentPIAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09363453610874838651noreply@blogger.com