Baldwin Declares Local Disaster Emergency

BALDWIN, PA - After last week’s extensive flash flooding, borough officials have declared a local disaster emergency, but it’s unclear what effect that might have on cleanup efforts.

The move came after residents attended Tuesday’s council meeting to complain about the destruction caused by last week’s relentless flooding.

The borough will file disaster paperwork with Allegheny County in hopes it could lead to some help from either the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

Severe storms over several days last week triggered Baldwin’s flash flooding that damaged homes and businesses and submerged vehicles. On June 15, a firefighter had to rescue a driver trapped in a car on Streets Run Road.

What impact might the disaster declaration have?

“It could open up some assistance for private residents, as well as recoup some of the expense (the borough) took on to clean up (and repair damage) to public infrastructure,” borough manager John Barrett told WTAE-TV.

Photo via Public Domain.