Part-time recovery position created to address flooding

BY THOMAS LESKIN (STAFF WRITERTLESKIN@REPUBLICANHERALD.COM)Published: February 20, 2013

A recent proactive effort with the creation of a part-time recovery plan coordinator position plans to reduce the impact of future flooding in Schuylkill County.

William E. Reichert, president of Schuylkill Headwaters Association, recently accepted the new part-time position of manager of the Pine Grove Area/Upper Swatara Long-Term Recovery Strategy.

State Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, helped coordinate the efforts of the Schuylkill Economic Development Corp., Schuylkill County Industrial Development Authority, Schuylkill County commissioners and the Schuylkill Conservation District, which created the position now responsible for managing projects that affect the entire Pine Grove/Upper Swatara watershed area.

The effort was based on an idea from a Federal Emergency Management Agency report.

"Basically, I'm taking the work that had been done by the folks when FEMA was here for Tropical Storm Lee to try to ensure that all of that effort and time and energy continues to move forward," Reichert said Tuesday. "You can spend a lot of time and effort to make a plan then put it on a bookshelf and nothing happens."

http://republicanherald.com/news/part-time-recovery-position-created-to-address-flooding-1.1447218