The Gettysburg Times from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania • Page 4

GETTYSBURG TIMES, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7,1996 A5 Federal program to buy Pa. flood properties BY PETER DURANTINE Associated Press Writer TUNKHANNOCK, Tom Walsh had no idea his home was in a flood plain until Hurricane Agnes struck in 1972, the year he bought the place. "That was our first indica- Jtion," he said. His last indication was Jan. when the devastating floods uninhabitable at least half of the 75 homes in this Wyoming County community 25 miles west of Scranton.

Lazy Brook Acres, nestled along the Tunkhannock Creek, a federal-funded housing project for first-time home buyers, who applied for loans through the Farmers Home Administration. Now the federal government is paying Walsh and 73 neighbors to move to higher ground in the first buyout of flood-prone properties in Pennsylvania. Under the federal act named after former U.S. Sen. Robert T.

Stafford, R-Vermont, $6.2 million will be given to Tunkhannock Township to purchase the properties at pre- flood, fair-market prices. The township will raze the homes and return the land to open space, with the obligation to never erect a structure or sell the land. Ultimately, taxpayers should save money because Walsh and the other 400 some residents will not be coming to the government for assistance after the lext flood. "What this is essentially doing is moving 74 families out of harm's way," said John Comey, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. "They won't be faced with rebuilding after subsequent flooding." The 25-year-old community of mostly ranch-style modular homes had experienced severe flooding in the past, but the worst came that January day, when the murky waters of the creek rose and engulfed many homes.

The water then froze. The next morning residents returned to find ice chunks as large as some cars in their yards. Foundations buckled under the pressure caused by the freeze. "It was like a lunar surface in here," said Walsh, president of the homeowners association. "Everything was totally caked with ice." Only a handful of people still live among the ruined homes.

One resident has refused the buyout offer. His home stands in the middle of the development. Since the program is voluntary, township officials have no recourse but to wait. "He may change his mind when he sees what's happening," said Carl Gable, chairman of the township supervisors. When Federal Emergency Management Agency officials arrived and offered the buyout as one of their options, "hands down everybody voted to go buyout and get out of here once and for all," Walsh said.

Walsh will be among the first 49 homeowners to settle on their homes Saturday. The township expects to settle on the remaining properties within the. next few weeks. Not everyone is happy with their decision. Some homeowners, particularly those nearing retirement, did not agree with the property assessments.

"It could have been done more fairly than it was," said 55-year- old Gloria Wiltsie, who is now renting a home with the option to buy. "I'll be using my Social Security check to pay my mortgage off." Under the buyout agreement, 1 percent of what homeowners get goes toward the township's contribution to the land acquisition. "It's going to cost us a heck of a lot more to move," Elsie Davis said. "Not just me, but all of us here." The state has $21.8 million, $4.3 million of which is state and local government money, available to buy properties damaged by the January floods. FEMA has 25 more applications from homeowner groups across the state who want a buyout offer.

State officials expect only success following similar programs started in the Midwest after the floods of 1993, said Jack Schuback, the federal coordinator for FEMA on the Lazy Brook buyout. More than 2,400 properties have been purchased in the Missouri flood plains, resulting in fewer evacuations and less severe property damage when the Missouri River rose again in 1995. Since 1993, the federal government has purchased thousands of properties in nine Midwest states. An entire town moved to higher ground when Commerce, which has 170 people, accepted a buyout. How many Pennsylvania homeowners live in flood plains is anyone's guess, state and FEMA officials said.

While the buyout program appears to save lives and money, it is not effective because people still build in flood plains. "There's not enough money," said Bruce Hearn, flood plain management chief for the state's Department of Community and Economic Development. "They'll never move more than a fraction. It would be like a bottomless pit trying to move existing structures out of the flood plain." Neither the state nor the federal government ban building in such areas, and the only disincentive is a federal law that requires homeowners to have flood insurance if they want to receive assistance. Gov.

Tom Ridge who, as an Erie congressman, wrote the buyout provisions in the Stafford Act, does not support a ban. "A flat out, across the board prohibition could be more than necessary," he said. Michael E. Times SANTA'S WORKSHOP Elizabeth Hertzog, a fourth-grader at St. Francis Xaxier Elementary School, packs presents purchased for her sisters and brother during SFX annual Santa's Workshop, Friday.

Deaths 'Continued from Page A2) Iren; one great-grandchild; and i number of nieces and nephews. Private funeral services will be leld Sunday, Dec. 8 at the tfonahan Funeral Home, Gettysburg, with the Rev. Dr. leffrey G.

Vayda officiating, nterment will be in the Evergreen Cemetery. Memorial contributions may made to Christ Lutheran Church, 30 Chambersburg Gettysburg 17325. Karen Redding Karen L. Redding, 40, of 620 )xford Road, New Oxford, died riday, Dec. 6 at her Jiome.

-Born-'Nov. 21,. 1956 in Janoverj she was the daughter- Homer C. and Mariam Cerchner Sterner. She was the rife of Richard L.

Redding, to she was married to for six ears. The Kenworthy Funeral Home 269 Frederick Hanover, 3 in charge of the funeral rrangements which are incom- lete at this time. Beryl J. Staub Beryl J. Staub, 78, of 3 S.

Jueen Littlestown, died "hursday, Dec. 5 at the York lospital. Born in Adams County, she was the daughter of the late John and Bessie Rider Smith. She was the widow of Donald J. Staub, who died in 1960.

Mrs. Staub worked for many years at the Carroll Shoe Company, Littlestown. She retired from Craftlite, Littlestown. She was a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Littlestown and the Littlestown Senior Center.

She is survived by one daughter, Linda L. Sanders of Gettysburg; one son, Donald J. Staub of York; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and one Frances Rhodes of FunefaF i services i will be held Monday, meeting at the Little's Funeral Home at 9:30 a.m. to proceed to the church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10 a.m., with Rev. James M.

Sterner as celebrant. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. There will be no viewing; however, the family will receive friends at Little's Funeral Home on Sunday, from 7 to 9 p.m., where prayers will be recited at 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 3293, Gettysburg 17325.

Donalean M. Kelly Donalean M. (Davis) Kelly, 85, of West Main Street, Emmitsburg, died Thursday, Dec. 5 at the St. Catherine's Nursing Center, Emmitsburg, Md.

Born Feb. 27, 1911 in Thurmont, she was a daughter of the late George and Gertrude Finneyfrock Davis. She was preceded in death by her husband, Francis R. Kelly on Nov. 12, 1993.

Kelly was a member of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Emmitsburg. She retired from the dietary department at St. Joseph's Provincial House after 39 years of service. She is survived by three children, James R.

Kelly of Hagerstown, Ann Marie Green of Emmitsburg, and Theresa Meckley of Harrisburg; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by three brothers, Harvey J. Davis, Harold E. Davis and Allen F. Davis.

Funeral services will be held Monday, Dec. 9, with the family vfds A Come; sculpt a floor with us. WOSTM. The possibilities are endless. SALE starts Dec.

5, 1996 thru Jan. 5, 1997 WILLIS J. MYERS FLOOR COVERING, INC 6185 Baltimore Pike Littlestown, PA 17340 (717)359-5460 meeting at the Skiles Funeral Home, Emmitsburg, Md. at 10:30 a.m. to go to St.

Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. with her pastor, the Rev. Michael J. Kennedy, as celebrant. Interment will be in the New St.

Joseph Cemetery, Emmitsburg, Md. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8 at the funeral home for a Christian Wake service to be held at 8 p.m. Memorial contributions in Mrs. Kelly's name may be made to St.

Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, P.O. Box Emmitsburg, Md. 21727. Dorothy M. Martell Dorothy M.

Martell, 91, of 2195 Table Rock Road, Biglerville, died Friday at her home. Mrs. Martell was born July 5, 1905, in Cavendish, the daughter of Sidney and Harriet Ward Parker. She was the wife of Edward Martell, who died in 1987. She is survived by one daughter, Emile O.

(Patricia Schmidt, with whom she resided; seven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Private funeral services will be held at the Monahan Funeral home in Gettysburg with the Rev. Louise Reynolds officiating. Interment will be in the St. Amadeus Cemetery in Alburgh, Vt.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Adams County Holiday Bureau, P.O. Box 3039, Gettysburg. Jerry L. Suffecool Jerry L. Suffecool, 19, of 1061 York Road, formerly of Goldsmith Road, Shippensburg, died Friday at bis residence following a lengthy illness.

Mr. Suffecool was born Sept. 26, 1977 in Chambersburg, the son of Mark A. Suffecool of Waynesboro and Susanne L. (Meyer) Landeverde of Gettysburg.

He was very active in karate, and took special interest in the ninja style of martial arts. A He is survived by his wife, Jamie Falls Suffecool of Virginia; one son, Jerry Allen Suffecool of West Virgina; one brother, Steve C. Suffecool of Shippensburg; one sister, Penny L. Suffecool of Waynesboro; paternal grandparents, Clarence L. and Janet Suffecool of Shady Grove; a maternal grandmother, Betty Meier of Scotland a maternal grandfather, Joseph E.

Meier Sr. of West Virginia. Graveside services will be he.ld Monday at 2 p.m. at the Cedar Hill Cemetery, Greencastle with the Rev. Jerry A.

Roth officiating. Burial will be at the cemetery. There will be no viewing. Funeral arrangement are being handled by the Robert G. Sellers Funeral Home, Chambersburg.

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