PA Environment Digest Blog: House Hearing: Local Communities Ask For State, Federal Help After Devastating Floods

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

House Hearing: Local Communities Ask For State, Federal Help After Devastating Floods

On April 29, at a House Democratic Policy Committee public hearing, local officials detailed the 100-year storm is happening more consistently, and they are asking for increased resources and funding to save lives and protect households.

Severe weather has devastated communities with increasing regularity, destroying structures, damaging homes and posing a significant risk to lives.

“Our community suffered incredible damage to homes, businesses and schools in recent years, and our residents continue to pick up the pieces from the devastating losses that continue to affect all the families touched by recent floods,” said Rep. Jacklyn Rusnock, who represents portions of Berks County. “Experts attempting to repair and alleviate flood risks acknowledged this problem is bigger than they can solve at the local level, and they are asking for more help at the state and federal level.”

Rep. Rusnock, who began her first term in the House in January, hosted the House Majority Policy Committee hearing on flood risk mitigation at the Muhlenberg Township Building.

“In July 2023 we saw incredible flash flooding, and while most of the attention focused on where we lost a building at Antietam High School, we saw significant damage throughout the region – including in Muhlenberg Township,” said Sen. Judy Schwank, who represents portions of Berks County. “We need to find solutions, and since we know there will be significant costs, the state will need to continue to partner with local and federal resources in a concerted effort to protect lives and property from future storms.”

“Every level of government has a role to play in protecting our communities and picking up the pieces after disasters,” said House Majority Policy Committee Chairman Ryan Bizzarro, who represents portions of Erie County. “The state’s water resources are a blessing, but in the wake of extreme weather we have seen the disastrous consequences. The key will always be partnerships and a collaborative effort to find solutions.”

Local officials detailed how excessive rainfall and contributing factors led to the flash floods on July 9, 2023.

Those factors included the region experiencing saturating conditions before enduring 8 inches of rainfall, stormwater planning that relied on streams to move water, blockages in the streams, a lack of stormwater systems, increased impervious surfaces, and a lack of infrastructure maintenance.

The House Majority Policy hearing featured testimony from Jim Bobeck, Muhlenberg Township Manager; Ken Bonkonski, Antietam School DistrictHead of Facilities; Hunter Ahrens, Mount Penn Borough Manager; Jill Whitcomb, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Acting Deputy Secretary for Office of Water Programs; Dean Druckenmiller, Berks County Conservation District Executive; and Pamela Stevens, Systems Design Engineering Civil Engineering Department Manager.