COUNTY LIVING


County Living
Sports
Schools
Church Announcements
Classifieds
Dated Events
Military News
Columnists
Editorials/Opinions
Obituaries
Archives
Subscribe to the Transcript

Be Safe And Have Fun On This Years

July 4th

Please visit our kind sponsors!

Issue Home July 5, 2006 Site Home

HEADLINES:
A Flood Of ’06 Pictorial
AG Warns About Potential Scams

A Flood Of ’06 Pictorial

Following are just some of the photographs we received, showing the extent of destruction of the flood of 2006. Photo credit is given where available. Many pictures were sent via e-mail, without a credit.

The view from I-81 South, over the Hallstead-Great Bend commercial area.

Photo by Ted Brewster.

Salt Lick Creek completely destroys the Rte. 492 bridge between Lakeside and New Milford.

Photo by Bill Liepinis

The Rte. 11 park in Hallstead, completely submerged. What is left of the pavilion is floating in the foreground.

Photo by Bill Liepinis

A National Guard helicopter flies over the Hallstead Plaza, surveying damage.

Main St., Lanesboro. In the far distance are a rowboat and a kayak, the only mode of transportation from one place to another.

Photo by Barbara Whitehead

A Conklin, NY Fire Department rescue diver and a concerned resident view flooding on NY Rte. 7.

Photo by Ted Brewster

The National Guard, bringing a water buffalo into Harmony Village Trailer Park, Rte. 11, Hallstead.

Photo by Bill Liepinis

A trailer is washed across a creek in Harmony Village.

Photo by Bill Liepinis

The Exchange St. underpass in Susquehanna is flooded, with water from Drinker Creek surging across the roadway.

Photo by Barbara Whitehead

The bottom of Hasbrouck Hill in Great Bend Township. The township building and Joe’s Disposal can be seen in the background.

The Mt. View Plaza in Great Bend Township, almost  completely submerged.

Photo by Bill Liepinis

Drinker Creek, in Susquehanna Boro, after the water level had receded was still well above normal high levels.

Photo by Barbara Whitehead

What rescuers had to deal with in Conklin, off NY Rte. 7.

Photo by Ted Brewster

A local resident whose first floor was flooded examines the outlet at the Tingley Lake dam on Stearns Rd., Harford Township.

Photo by Ted Brewster

The intersection of Routes 171 and 11 in Great Bend Township.

Back to Top

 

AG Warns About Potential Scams

HARRISBURG – Attorney General Tom Corbett warned consumers to be on the lookout for possible flood-related scams, including unscrupulous contractors or phony charity appeals that claim to assist victims and families in the hardest hit areas.

“The recent flooding has impacted thousands of Pennsylvanians, causing evacuations and moderate to severe damage to their homes and property,” Corbett said. “Unfortunately, this is prime time for con artists to search out tired and weary victims looking for immediate help. I urge consumers getting back into their homes to be very careful about hiring workers to make these necessary repairs.”

Corbett offered the following tips and advice to consumers seeking home repair work after the recent flooding:

Beware of repair personnel who claim to be certified or affiliated with any state or federal emergency program.

Do not allow a contractor, utility company or “inspector” into your home without confirming their identity.

Contact your homeowners’ insurance agent to inspect your property to determine if the damage is covered by your existing policy.

Get several estimates for the same work to avoid possible price gouging.

Do not sign a contract for repairs until you and your insurance company have agreed on the exact costs.

Never agree to repairs until you have a written contract stating the type and quality of work to be done, the costs for labor and supplies and a start and completion date for the project.

Do not give a contractor a large down payment. In many instances, a down payment of one-third the total cost may be appropriate, with future payments due as the work progresses.

Check county, city or local licensing rules or requirements for various contractors including plumbers or electricians.

Never hire a contractor who doesn’t have a local business, phone number or address, or who refuses to provide references. Check customer satisfaction with the Better Business Bureau.

Inquire about the contents of “disaster relief kits” that are available for sale.

Report any suspicious activity to the police or the Attorney General’s Office.

In addition, Corbett said be extremely cautious in hiring a contractor who is going door-to-door making an on-the-spot offer to repair your home or property right away at an unusually low cost. Reputable contractors will not pressure you to make an immediate decision or suggest that the job can be done without a written contract.

“The most important advice I have for homeowners is not to let their guard down and be rushed into making decisions they may regret later,” Corbett said. “Take the time to get a contract and do some research on anyone performing work on your home.”

Corbett said other flood related scams include bogus pleas for charitable donations to assist neighbors harmed by the disaster. Be careful donating to individuals seeking cash to help families who you are unaware of or who they cannot identify.

Also, if a solicitation is made on behalf of a well known charity, always check with the organization to ensure that it is, in fact soliciting in your neighborhood. If a charity does not sound familiar, you can check its registration status by calling the Pennsylvania Department of State at 1-800-732-0999.

Consumers are also reminded that under Pennsylvania law car dealers are required to disclose if a vehicle incurred flood damage. Signs of flood damage include new carpet in an older model used vehicle, dirt or mud in air vents, musty or moldy smell, fluid contamination in oil or transmission containers. Consumers who suspect vehicle flood damage are urged to have their cars inspected by a reputable mechanic.

Flood victims seeking additional information are asked to call the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555. Complaint forms are available by calling the number or visiting www.attorneygeneral.gov.

Flood victims in counties that have been approved for federal aid are encouraged to contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to register for disaster assistance. The number to call is 1-800-621- FEMA.

Back to Top

 

 


News  |  Living  |  Sports  |  Schools  |  Churches  |  Ads  |  Events
Military  |  Columns  |  Ed/Op  |  Obits  | Archive  |  Subscribe