Upper Nazareth to Receive Federal Aid for Irene Cleanup

It looks like Upper Nazareth Township will receive reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for costs the township incurred due to Hurricane Irene damage.

Mike Rinker, chairman of the board of supervisors, announced at Wednesday's meeting that Upper Nazareth qualifies for financial help from FEMA to defray expenses associated with fending off the storm's wrath and cleaning up the mess it left after it blew away.

Rinker cautioned that not all of the details are finalized and it is not yet clear how much money the township will receive -- or when it will be received. He noted that any extraordinary costs Upper Nazareth took on during Irene could qualify for reimbursement from FEMA.

As examples of potential reimbursement items, Rinker mentioned cutting up and cleaning up fallen trees in , the cost to run and operate township-owned vehicles around the clock during the height of the storm, and overtime hours incurred when an extra police officer was added to the regular patrol shift to deal with numerous emergency calls during the hurricane.

“Basically, any extra costs due to the storm” could be eligible for reimbursement, Rinker said after the meeting.

He also noted, in remarks during the meeting, that potential emergency shelters had been prepared at Nazareth Area School District schools in Upper Nazareth had the storm hit harder and lasted longer.

In other business, Upper Nazareth and East Allen Township are working on an to ban trucks on Township Line Road and allow to enforce the ban on the East Allen side of the road, said township solicitor Gary Asteak.

The center line on the road serves as the border between the townships. Residents have complained that tractor-trailers coming to or from nearby businesses clog roads in the neighborhood, with some truck drivers unaware that making turns at intersections such as Newburg and Silver Crest roads is almost impossible for an 18-wheeler.

In August, Upper Nazareth supervisors supported the idea of an inter-municipal agreement with East Allen to enforce the truck ban.