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Lions Club Soup Drive
As a longtime supporter of the East Donegal Conoy Christian Food Bank, the Marietta Lions Club is again going all in to support a food drive. This year one of the top needs is cans of soup. So with that knowledge the Marietta Lions Club is having a SOUP DRIVE to benefit the East Donegal Conoy Christian Food Bank. Our goal is to donate 1000 cans of soup. There will be a box at the Marietta Borough Office from November 8th to December 13th. Additional boxes are located at the East Donegal Township Office and the Maytown Northwest Bank. Please help us reach our goal! If you need to have cans collected, call George Darling at 717-426-4349 to pick up your cans of soup.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED –
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – FOREST WORK DAY!
Marietta needs volunteers to help cut vines that are choking out trees in the floodplain forest. Our first work day will be on 28 January, from 10 am – 12 pm at the Chestnut Street trail entrance. Bring clippers and loppers, if able.
Flood Insurance Myths
Help Burst those Flood Insurance Myths
An important component of promoting flood insurance is dispelling the myths that persist about it. Below are a few of the most salient misunderstandings about flood insurance and some straightforward explanations of what is really true. Your community may find it helpful to use the linked materials to address mistaken beliefs among your residents. Also, there are several “myths” articles in the linked materials that could be reprinted to highlight some of the ideas below.
MYTH My homeowner’s insurance covers flooding.
This may be the most prevalent misinformation of all. In fact, almost no homeowner’s insurance policies cover flood damage. That is why the federal government created the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Flood insurance is sold as a separate policy, so even if a person’s regular agent doesn’t handle flood insurance, it can be obtained from another agent who serves that area. To find one, people can contact the NFIP call center at 800-427-4661 or www.FloodSmart.gov. Communities can distribute FEMA’s palm card, “Your Homeowners Insurance Does Not Cover Flooding.” One flood survivor who had that separate policy- and was glad he did – tells about it in a one-minute video from FEMA.
MYTH I don’t need flood insurance, because I’m not in a high-risk zone.
The reality is that it can flood almost anywhere, and it doesn’t take much water to cause expensive damage. In fact, about 1/3 of all flood disaster assistance and 1/3 of all flood insurance claims payments go to people who have been flooded even though they were outside of the mapped high- risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area). With a changing climate, scientists say that extreme weather events—like the tremendous rain that accompanied hurricanes last summer and caused localized flooding—will be more likely in the future. So living in a location that so far has been thought to be at low risk does not mean that is safe now. Why Do I Need Flood Insurance? helps people understand the need for flood coverage. Know Your Risk focuses on the potential for flooding in low-lying coastal areas. A one-minute video from FEMA tells the story of a family who were relieved that they had bought flood insurance even though they had already been through hurricanes without sustaining damage.
MYTH I can’t get flood insurance, because I’m not in a high-risk zone.
Virtually anyone who lives in or owns property in an NFIP-participating community can buy flood insurance for a residential building, business, condo, or apartment, and the contents can be insured as well (or instead). Flood insurance through the NFIP has never been restricted to people located in the high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area). In fact, for people outside the high-risk zone, flood insurance is an even better deal, because the premiums are lower. An overview of the availability, coverage, and costs of flood insurance- in clear language and with sources of more information – can be found on the FloodSmart website. Communities can also use the brochure about the preferred risk policy for low-hazard areas.
MYTH Even if my house did flood, it wouldn’t be by much.
There may not be very much water, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be much damage. Only one inch of water in an average home can cause more than $25,000 in damage. A handy visual representation of this is the Cost of Flooding tool developed by FEMA. It is a simple interactive device to help people see how the depth of flooding translates to damage costs. This link is a good addition to a community’s flood awareness website.
MYTH I don’t need flood insurance because FEMA gives disaster assistance.
The truth is that FEMA can only provide disaster assistance when the president issues a disaster declaration—this happens for less than half of all floods. Even if there is a disaster declaration, FEMA can only provide small grants, not enough to cover all losses and certainly not enough to rebuild. For example, in Hurricane Harvey the average individual grant FEMA distributed was only $7,000.
Most other federal disaster assistance comes in the form of loans, which much be repaid. By contrast, in Hurricane Harvey, the average NFIP claim payment was over $100,000—that’s a payment from the insurance policy and of course never has to be repaid. And, a flood insurance policy pays for any covered damage, even if it results from a small (not disastrous) flood. Use the two-page handout, “The Benefits of Flood Insurance vs. Disaster Assistance,” to compare the two.
Plan, Adjust, Recover—Flood Response Preparations
While parts of the country are bracing for frigid temperatures and icy conditions, the next flood might not be at the top of the “worry” list.
Before
Proactive communities send messages to the public well in advance of the next flood, so citizens don’t become complacent. People tend to think outreach should ramp up before hurricane season and, although that may be true on the coast, most communities are vulnerable year-round, and everyone needs to be ready for the next flood. Messages before a flood can range from flood safety (Turn Around Don’t Drown) to property protection techniques to how to gather information for insurance purposes. People who’ve never been flooded before usually believe they never will, and reminding them of past local disasters drives home the point that you never know when it could happen.
During
The National Weather Service keeps residents apprised of current conditions and forecasts while local television stations compete to produce the best coverage and latest information. Municipalities can take this a step further and send messages that are community-specific, for example, explaining why a particular neighborhood should expect more accumulation of water because of insufficient drainage, narrow channels, and/or “choke points.” Social media like Facebook and Twitter can be invaluable for outreach during the flood. Even when the power is out, people will get in their cars to recharge their phone batteries just so they can stay connected.
After
Recovery after the storm can be a little easier if both the citizens and the community were prepared beforehand. Still, people can be overwhelmed by where to start. Communities can turn their websites into a one-stop shop for disaster information—from the locations where utility repair crews are working on a given day, to places where ice is being distributed, to tips on handling mold and mildew. Recovery won’t be the same for everyone, so it’ll be important to get the right messages to the right people.
When it’s safe, city inspectors and others will make damage assessments. This is an opportune time to also place door hangers at flooded properties to advise owners of the next steps in their recovery process—everything from what their insurance adjuster will need to how to get a permit for repairs.But recovery is more than permits and repairs. It goes hand in hand with a community’ s mitigation efforts to reduce the impacts of the next flood. And that leads back to preparation. A community that engages in outreach through all three stages of a flood will fare better in the long run. A prepared community is a resilient community and can come back stronger after a flood
Community Organizations
Clothing Because We Care: provides a source of FREE second-hand gently used clothing, infants through adults. It is open every 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon at 45 West Market Street Marietta, PA 17547. Click Here for directions. Drop by or call the church office for more information at 717.426.1345. Monetary donations are accepted, but not necessary.
Food Bank (East Donegal / Conoy Area): Located at Coffee Goss Road & Peach Street, Maytown, PA Click Here for directions. It is open Wednesday’s from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Contact Pat Vogel @ 426-2360 for more information.
Drug Prevention in Marietta
Marietta Borough Council has contributed to the Lancaster County Task Force because we recognize the severity of drug related deaths through the US. Below are a few links that may help your family or loved ones.
The following links can be referenced for information:
A Medical Doctor can also be used as a resource to help with an addiction if an individual does not feel comfortable contacting one of the agencies listed below.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Services, Inc.
Introducing the new Borough of Marietta website.
Borough Council approved the development of a new website in 2018.
