Plum offering variety of help for residents with flood damage
Help is continuing to come in and be made available for Plum residents hit by flooding brought on by heavy rain earlier this week.
That includes dumpsters for residents to dispose of flood damaged property; cleanup and hygiene kits; and a Facebook group where residents who can help and those who need help can connect with each other.
The borough says it has been working with its garbage hauler, Republic Services, to get dumpsters for residents affected by the recent flooding.
Two dumpsters were set up at the rear of the municipal building at 4575 New Texas Road.
On Friday, the borough said dumpsters also had been delivered to Kirk Drive, Millers Lane, the corner of Pine Valley and Tahoe Drive, the rear of 780 Pine Valley Drive and at Vale Avenue and Deborah Jane Drive.
“We ask that residents be respectful of the fact these dumpsters are being provided for those with flood damage only and we ask that you do not use these dumpsters for your personal use,” the borough said on its Facebook page.
The borough said it will be looking for a solution to help defray costs for residents who got dumpsters at their own expense.
The borough said Republic Services will take more than one bulk item per household if time and space permits.
The Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania delivered an additional 150 clean-up kits and 100 hygiene kits to the borough Thursday. Residents who experienced flooding can pick them up at the borough building.
They were to be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The borough announced it has launched a new public Facebook group, “Plum Residents Helping Residents,” to help residents asking for help and those offering to help to connect with each other.
The group had almost 300 members as of Thursday night. It had increased to more than 340 on Friday.
Allegheny County has partnered with the United Way as a one-call center to take requests for assistance from residents who have damage from flash flooding, according to the borough.
Residents are advised to call 211 to have their needs forwarded to the Red Cross and other organizations.
Brian C. Rittmeyer, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
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