Where is Shickshinny?

Shickshinny, PA• Borough Population ~835 (2012 Estimate – and peak was 2,451 in 1930)• 8900 vehicles pass through SR 11 and SR 239 daily.• Limited services

• 1 grocery store• 1 bank• 1 gas station• 1 restaurant with table service• Volunteer Fire / Rescue / Ambulance• No police department

• Resources available across the region for recreation• Shickshinny – Handicapped accessible boat launch, playgrounds, Susquehanna Warrior Trail, hiking

trails• Regional – rock climbing, hiking, scenic overlooks

Shickshinny is Highly Susceptible to Flooding(10 floods in past 10 years, 3 of these “Major”)

• 48.1 HEIGHT OF THE INSTRUMENT SHELF. INUNDATION AT THIS POINT WILL STOP GAUGE FROM OPERATING.• 42.66 RECORD FLOOD STAGE OF SEPTEMBER 8, 2011. REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM LEE.• 41 MAXIMUM EFFECTIVE DESIGN OF LEVEE PROTECTION FOR THE CITY OF WILKES-BARRE. LEVEE HEIGHT ABOVE THIS LEVEL MAY

NOT PROVIDE PROTECTION.• 40.9 FLOOD STAGE FROM HURRICANE AGNES...JUNE 24, 1972.• 36 NESCOPECK BOROUGH BEGINS TO FLOOD.• 35 DUNDEE AREA IN HANOVER TOWNSHIP BEGINS TO FLOOD. US RTE 11 IN EDWARDSVILLE FLOODS.• 33 MOCANAQUA BEGINS TO FLOOD.• 32 MAIN STREET IN SHICKSHINNY FLOODS.• 31 HOLLENBACK PARK IN WILKES-BARRE...DURYEA AND WEST PITTSTON ARE AFFECTED. THE BROOKSIDE AREA BEGINS TO FLOOD.• 30 MAJOR FLOODING BEGINS. US ROUTE 11 IN AVONDALE IS COVERED BY FLOOD WATER. MAIN STREET IN SHICKSHINNY BEGINS TO

FLOOD. FLOODING BEGINS TO AFFECT AREAS OF WILKES-BARRE UPSTREAM OF NORTH STREET BRIDGE...INCLUDING COURT HOUSE.• 29 US RTE 11 IN SHICKSHINNY IS CLOSED. RIVER ROAD IN PORT BLANCHARD AND WEST PITTSTON BEGIN TO FLOOD. PP&L

RIVERLANDS FACILITIES BEGIN TO FLOOD.• 28 MODERATE FLOODING BEGINS. US RTE 11 IN WEST NANTICOKE IS CLOSED. CANAL STREET IN WEST NANTICOKE BEGINS TO FLOOD.• 27 US ROUTE 11 IN WEST NANTICOKE AND RIVER ROAD IN PLAINSVILLE BEGIN TO FLOOD.• 24 CANAL STREET IN SHICKSHINNY AND LOWLANDS IN PITTSTON BEGIN TO FLOOD.• 22 MINOR FLOODING BEGINS. LOWLANDS IN PLAINSVILLE...PLYMOUTH FLATS...WEST NANTICOKE AND SHICKSHINNY FLOOD.

MAXIMUM EFFECTIVE DESIGN OF LEVEE PROTECTION IN THE CITY OF WILKES-BARRE IS 41 FEET.

Road to Recovery – How Should it Work?

Major Change / Disaster• Focus on basic

needs and immediate future

Now What / Idea Generation• All Hands

participation• Energy / Positive

Thoughts

Planning & Choice Making• Master Planning• Organization births• Partnerships

Inflection Points & Positive Change• Improved

Community• Economic Growth• Better Prep

ShickshinnyForward• Formed in January 2012• 501(c)(3) since July, 2013• 100% volunteer organization• Partner with borough government, regional education institutions, other recovery

groups, other small communities, other non-profits, and local and regional businesses• Organization Statistics:

• 70% of volunteers do not live in the borough• 90% of volunteers do not live in the flood plane• 85% of our charitable contributions come from business and individuals from outside

• Shickshinny welcomes all to live, work, and play in a safe, vibrant, attractive River Town community and area hub of recreation, culture, business and community activity

Road to Recovery – What Really Happens?

Major Change / Disaster• Focus on basic needs

and immediate future• Neighbors helping

neighbors

Now What / Idea Generation• All Hands participation• Negative Energy /

Negative Thoughts• “Why Can’t it Be???”• “If only we had…”• “It will never be the

same”• Personal Agendas surface

Planning & Choice Making• Master Planning• Organization births• Partnerships• Infighting• Lack of Trust• Lack of Transparency• Short Term needs can

usurp long term goals• Organization resources

dry up

Inflection Points & Positive Change• Improved Community• Economic Growth• Better Prep• Organization resources

dry up• Slow build towards

renewal

COM

MU

NIT

YTR

AUM

A

Community Trauma• Much like with individuals, repeated trauma to a

community increases the possibility of symptoms including learned victimization and learned helplessness.• Those residing in an area of repeated disasters exist

in a situation of anxiety and hyper-vigilance.• A loss of control is a hallmark of the traumatic

experience. • Direct involvement in recovery, both micro and

macro, reduces feelings of helplessness and hopelessness as it enhances a sense of control regarding stressful situations.

Wilkes Barre Gauge Level Date

1) 42.66 9/9/20112) 22.83 1/27/20103) 22.01 3/5/20084) 22.96 3/16/20075) 34.14 6/28/20066) 30.88 4/4/20057) 26.05 3/30/20058) 24.75 1/15/20059) 34.96 9/19/2004

10) 22.84 3/22/2003 22FLOOD LEVEL

Key Lessons• Organization Building / Capability Building is a long burn

• Build skills in the community now• Establish 501(c)(3) orgs now, to secure grants later

• Don’t wait for the disaster to master plan

• Control your own destiny now – take advantage of ‘blue sky’ periods; break down barriers, generate interest, inventory resources and capabilities

• Change is inevitable – build plans to address the continued trauma

ShickshinnyForwardShickshinny welcomes all to live, work, and play in a safe, vibrant, attractive

River Town community and area hub of recreation, culture, business and community activity.

President: Brian PhillipsVice President: Daniel HinchcliffSec / Treasurer: Michael Grier

Brand / Program Mgmt: Amanda Birk

Get Involved in Your CommunityPO Box 69, Huntington Mills, PA, 18622

info@shickshinnyforward.comtwitter @4WardShickcall +1.570.550.0721

Exec Board meetings(public welcome)

3rd Monday of each month, 630PMShickshinny Borough Building

35 West Union StreetShickshinny, PA 18655

http://facebook.com/shickshinnyforward | http://www.shickshinnyforward.com | http://twitter.com/4WardShick

Calendar http://shickshinnyforward.com/calendar

Org Info http://shickshinnyforward.com/organization

Communication to the ShickshinnyForward Executive Boardexecutiveboard@shickshinnyforward.com