Pocono News Section

Exeter, Repeat Target of Floods, Hears New Proposals

Exeter, Repeat Target of Floods, Hears New Proposals - Monday, September 10, 2007 at 11:35PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Monday, Sep 10, 2007 @11:35pm EST

EXETER, LUZERNE COUNTY- There's alarming new information on flood protection. County engineers have been fine-tuning plans to keep homes and businesses dry.

"We're working on a shoestring right now." That's according to Exeter Council President Richard Murawski. He described a precarious situation. "The two pumps that we have currently are totally gone, destroyed by the last flood."

Parts of the borough have been flooded four times in two years.

"Exeter does not have pumps that work properly and certainly doesn't have the right sized pumps. That's evidenced by the amount of flooding that's happened," Karen Szwast said.

Even with arguments for pumps from leaders and homeowners, county flood protection engineer, Jim Brozena isn't sold on the idea.

"I believe it's premature at this point to do so," Brozena told WBRE News.

Instead, design contractors proposed new openings in the levee for Abrahams and Hicks Creeks and moving a railroad crossing. Both are expected to ease runoff and flash flooding.

There's been a development freeze in Exeter. No new construction is permitted until "the problem is figured out and fixed," a source inside the borough told WBRE.

But most homeowners at Monday night's informations session were adamant about getting new pumps for the borough.