Centre County praised for response to flooding

The impact of last week’s disastrous flooding in Centre County is far-reaching, but so is the community’s support of those in need.

Both the flooding and how people can receive help were topics of discussion at Tuesday’s Centre County Board of Commissioners meeting.

“Phenomenal,” “fantastic” and “incredible” were words used to describe the response.

Jeff Wharran, director of Centre County Emergency Management Agency, said more than 200 private residences sustained damage from the flood.

He added that about 100 rescues or evacuations took place.

Even with many people affected, there were only minor injuries, he said.

In some places, rainfall totaled more than 10 inches, Wharran said.

With the county having declared a disaster, Wharran said, it opens doors to get relief funding from the state and federal government.

The most concentrated area of damage occurred in central city Milesburg, he said.

Many homes on Railroad Street had full dumpsters in their front yards.

Wharran said some of the homes had 2 to 3 feet of water on the first floor, in addition to basements filled with water.

He said he thinks the infrastructure damage will easily top $1 million, but Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is still working to get estimates.