TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT PREVENTING FUTURE FLOODING

 HARRISBURG, OCT. 18 – State Sen. Connie Williams was appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell to serve on a newly-created task force that will examine the causes of the Aug. 1, 2004 flood and look at the flood control issue in greater detail.

 Williams joined other state and federal elected officials, as well as representatives of the state Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Community and Economic Development, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, the governor’s office, and representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local government on the Southeast Pennsylvania Flood Task Force.

 “People are still suffering the effects of the flood that hit portions of the 17^th District, including Haverford and Lower Merion townships in August,” Williams said. “Through the task force, we are more closely examining what to do to prevent future flooding incidents.”

 According to Williams, an informal meeting with a number of the task force members, the governor’s office and the Army Corps of Engineers was held in late August. The task force was an offshoot of that meeting.

 “I look forward to working on the task force to find solutions that will safeguard the residents of the 17^th Senatorial District and the entire Southeastern portion of the state,” Williams said. “With all of the stakeholders coming to the table, I am confident that we will address the flooding issue.”