Hurricane Irene Bills Bethlehem Township $100,000

As a cold September rain battered the Municipal Building on September 6, Bethlehem Township Manager Howard Kutzler gave Commissioners with a preliminary report of damages caused by the previous storm - Hurricane Irene. It totals approximately $100,000.

Nancy Run firefighters rescued 8-9 vehicles stranded along Willow Park Road, where an angry Nancy Run Creek overflowed. In addition, they pumped water out of twenty basements. But the damage was more serious throughout the Township.

According to Kutzler, about $20,000 was spent for manpower and equipment. In addition, the bottom of Sculac Road, near the Lehigh River, will need to be re-paved. But the big ticket item, at $75,000 is the repair of a one-acre sized detention at Lehigh Valley Industrial Park, behind Farmersville Elementary School. Its liner needs to be replaced. In addition, a dozen sinkholes have sprung up in the now empty pond. "We have to repair that," stated Kutzler, who added that the pond is Township-owned.

The Township will apply for assistance from FEMA, through Northampton County Emergency Management Services.

Commissioners also heard several complaints from Township residents about storm water run-off, particularly along Willow Park Road. In 2006, Lafayette College conducted a study of an 800-acre drainage area along Santee Road. Dr. David Brandes, who supervised the this water investigation, concluded that 80% of the drainage was coming from Bethlehem.

(Above is a picture of Nancy Run Creek, raging close to Willow Park Road, the day after Hurricane Irene.)

Who The Hell Goes Camping in the Middle of a Hurricane?

One man who did is now dead.

Check Out LV Weather Patrol

Lehigh Valley Weather Patrol provided great, man-on-the-street, reactions to Hurricane Irene, along with outstanding meteorological insight. I love the photos and videos posted by citizen-weathermen throughout the area.

They even started listing tomorrow's school closings, although you can get a more detailed list at WFMZ-TV69's Stormcenter.

Widespread Power Outages, But Nobody Hurt

As of 8 AM, Northampton County Emergency Services reports widespread power outages, is predicting major flooding along the Delaware River at Easton, and minor flooding along the Lehigh River at Walnutport. The best news is that there were no reports of any casualties at that time.

Stoffa Signs Declaration of Disaster

You can track Hurricane Irene locally at the Northampton County EMS. The latest situation report, published at midnight, indicates there will be moderate to major flooding along the Delaware River in Easton. In the event it becomes necessary, Red Cross has activated a shelter in Bethlehem with a capacity of 800. A 100-person shelter in Easton, with generator power, has been identified. Electric utilities have pre-positioned restoration equipment. There are no casulaties, but County Executive John Stoffa has signed a Declaration of Disaster.