Nearly six months after the September floods strained the Wyoming Valley levee system, officials are still waiting for the reports to be released from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Senator Bob Casey Monday called for the Corps to release that report so repairs on the levee system can get started.
On the morning of September 9, 2011 officials noticed water actually began to bubble up from the ground near the levee in Forty Fort. Dozens of trucks dumped rocks and boulders to shore up that section of the levee and the it ultimately held.
After the flood, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers did an inspection on the entire levee system in the Wyoming Valley, but county and state officials who oversee the levee are still waiting for the Corps report to be released. In that report the engineers will list what repairs are needed and how much it will cost.
U.S. Senator Bob Casey said the U.S. Corps of Engineers needs to speed up releasing that report so work can begin on the levee.
“One estimate I saw was $5 billion this levee saved. If you have a levee that worked that well and needs repairs and we just need those repairs done. The report of course is the lynch pin to get it done,” Casey said.
The senator and other officials in Luzerne County want to stress that the levee is safe, it is sound and will provide protection to the people of the Wyoming Valley in case a flood happens again.
As one expert put it, this levee is a living, breathing thing and needs constant maintenance and care.
