LAWRENCE COUNTY Commissioners to give money to townships hit by bad weather

State and federal officials will also look at the damage.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Two townships hit hard by Tuesday's rainstorms are getting some financial help from Lawrence County.
Commissioners agreed to give up to $25,000 each to Mahoning and Wilmington townships. The money will come from the county's liquid fuels fund -- money that comes from state gasoline taxes and can only be used for road-related projects.
Officials say the storm has washed-out roads, culverts and ditches.
The National Weather Service determined that a microburst hit the area Tuesday afternoon. A microburst is a strong wind gust that produces a swath of damage greater than 2.5 miles.
Trees were uprooted, sheds and garages damaged and numerous power lines were downed.
The area had already been hit by flooding in late July, and both townships had declared disasters.
County Emergency Management Director Sharyn Critchlow said officials from Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are expected in the next few weeks to look at the flooding damage, and she expects to also show them the damage caused by the microburst.