Multiple residents on Derrick Road experienced flooding issues on June 3, some even experiencing property damage. Many blamed the flooding on the installation of a new bridge several years ago.

After consulting with their hydraulic engineer in Harrisburg, Timothy Nebgen, safety press officer for the state Department of Transportation, told The Era the flooding was instead caused by a “very significant” and “very rare” weather event, also known as a 100-year flood event. According to Nebgen, a 100-year flood event has only a one percent chance of occurring in any given year.

Residents are eligible to purchase flood insurance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as the area is at high risk for flooding during a 100-year flood event.

The bridge in question was replaced as part of a public-private partnership between PennDOT and Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners. Under the terms of the partnership, Plenary Walsh is responsible for providing maintenance to bridges replaced under that partnership for a period of 25 years.

Nebgen noted they have provided the individuals in the house that was hit the hardest by the flooding with contact information for Plenary Walsh so they can “directly report any maintenance concerns to the contractor in the future.” In addition, PennDOT is working to secure environmental clearance that would allow maintenance crews to make improvements to a state-owned culvert in the area in hopes of providing some relief to residents.

“We are doing what we can to provide relief to these residents, but the potential for flooding issues in this area will still exist,” explained Nebgen.