Hurricane Irene Damage Still Lingers In Philadelphia Region

Hurricane Irene may have happened months ago, but it’s damage is still being felt in the area.   

Several parks along the Neshaminy Creek in Bucks county have areas that need to be cleaned up but the 33 acre Playwicki park remains completely closed.  William Mitchell is Executive Director of Bucks County Parks and Recreation.

 

“Most of the park was three to four feet underwater, there was a lot of tree damage along the banks of the Neshaminy we lost pavilions where trees had fallen into the Pavilions,” said Mitchell.  “We lost electric in the park we’re trying to get that restored now.”

Mitchell is hoping for some federal funding to cover the $200,000  in damage to the park.  In Philadelphia Liam O’Keefe, the city’s Director of Emergency Management says parks and roads have long since been re-opened.

“Fairmount Water Works did sustain some damage on their lower levels we’ll have to take care of those damages, working with FEMA to obtain funding to support that.  We also had some damages to roadways adjacent to creeks streams and rivers,” said O’Keefe.

New Jersey officials are still dealing with similar damage, especially in Atlantic county.