Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti and other city officials updated the situation throughout the city yesterday at a news conference at the intersection of Jackson St. & Merrifield Ave. Pumping is still underway to remove water from the area. The city signed an emergency declaration due to the estimates of millions of dollars of property damage done by the storms. . Damage may be reported to 3-11. Officials also reminded those who are cleaning up areas where flooding occured to use caution because contaminants in the water are possible.
Yesterday, the Lackawanna County Commissioners authorized a Declaration of Disaster Emergency for the County due to the storms that swept through the area on Saturday. State, County, local and EMA officials have toured several communities impacted the hardest to survey the damage but anyone who was affected and/or experienced damage are encouraged to send in information requesting assistance. Government officials are advising residents and business owners to document all of the damage to their property via written copy and photos. They should send the information to their city, township, or municipality who will in turn submit it to the County’s EMA office and then on to PEMA for assistance.
A State of Emergency was also declared in both Dallas Borough and Dallas Township in Luzerne County due to the damage caused by the storms. Leggio's Restaurant was hard hit during the storm and will be closed until further notice for cleanup. The final day of the Luzerne County Fair was also canceled due to storm damage. Luzerne County officials were preparing storm damage estimates to submit to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
Officials with the state, including PennDot and PEMA will be at PennDOT District 4 headquarters later this morning to provide updates on conditions of area roads impacted by the storms.