U.S. Department of Agriculture asking property owners to complete survey about April flooding
Coxes Creek at at the intersection of Water Level Road and Route 653
Coxes Creek rose to high levels along Water Level Road, between Somerset and Rockwood.
Property owners in western Pennsylvania are being surveyed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to determine if the heavy rainfall that occurred in early April has affected local watersheds and put property owners at risk.
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The survey results will be used to determine if properties could be eligible for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program, a recovery program aimed at relieving imminent hazards to life and property as a result of a significant flooding event.
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Eligible sites must have a permanent residence or business located within 50 feet of a stream and have experienced severe streambank damage. Examples of such damage include several feet or more of bank loss, exposed foundations or the total failure of existing streambank structures.
Public utilities are eligible if the streambank damage is within 10 feet of the utility.
Homes or businesses that were damaged by high flood water are not eligible for assistance, nor are detached garages and sheds that are not being used as a permanent residence.
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Typical streambank restoration work covered by EWP funding includes protecting eroded stream banks, reseeding damaged areas on eligible sites and other options.
Property owners who were affected by the April flooding and believe that damages could meet the EWP eligibility requirements are asked to complete an EWP Rapid Damage Response Survey online by May 17. The survey, and additional information on the EWP program, can be found at www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/ewp-emergency-watershed-protection/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-emergency.
For questions on completing the survey or the EWP program, contact the USDA’s Somerset Service Center at 814-289-4263 or your county’s service center.
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The survey results will be reviewed and eligible property owners will be notified if the EWP program becomes available in a county. Program availability is not guaranteed.
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