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| The Latest News from Your State Representative |
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| Please do not reply to this e-mail, as I am unable to respond to messages sent to this address. You can contact me directly at vgaydos@pahousegop.com or here. |
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Town Hall Meeting on Proposed Landslide Insurance Legislation
Each year, we hear about landslides in and around our region. Because of western Pennsylvania’s geography, many homes have been damaged severely because of landslides, mudslides or any other types of earth movement.
I along with Rep. Emily Kinkead (D-Allegheny) will be holding a Landslide Public Hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 20, from 6-8 p.m., at the Sewickley Valley YMCA Activity Center to discuss our legislation that would create a new insurance program for homeowners living in landslide-prone areas, as well as assistance to local governments that wish to mitigate the risk of landslides within their communities.
Damage from landslides is not covered under normal homeowner’s insurance, so this is an area where the average homeowner is often “on his or her own.” The expense can be overwhelming.
House Bill 589 would add coverage of landslides, slope movement and sinkholes to an existing program in the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection that currently only covers mine subsidence assistance and insurance.
These are pictures of devastation on Glenside Street in Pittsburgh’s Observatory Hill. What was once a family home has now been condemned after a landslide. Western Pennsylvania is susceptible to landslides because of two natural geologic characteristics:
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The bedrock land composition, consisting mainly of incompetent mud rocks, such as silty shales and clay stones that weather easily. Also, the regional topography consisting of steep slopes. |
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The changing weather patterns, widening heavy rainfall and increasing flooding has caused significant geologic hazards across the state and is a risk to nearly all Pennsylvanians who may not have the ability to financially prepare. |
The legislation would use the state’s emergency management system and establish special insurance and assistance funds to protect Pennsylvanians.
We need to help the people who reside in landslide-prone areas. This legislation has numerous co-sponsors and has bipartisan support.
Please read below for more detailed information.
Let’s talk about this important issue that has plagued many people in our area. The Sewickley Valley YMCA is located at 625 Blackburn Road, Sewickley. Seating for this event is limited. RSVP by calling my district office at 412-262-3780.
Sincerely,
Valerie Gaydos |
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| Office Locations |
| District Office: |
| 1005 Beaver Grade Road, Suite 106, Moon Township, PA 15108 | Phone: (412) 262-3780, Fax: (412) 262-3783 |
| Capitol Office: |
| Room 428, Irvis Office Building, House Box 202044, Harrisburg PA 17120-2044 | Phone: (717) 787-6651 | |
| Email: vgaydos@pahousegop.com |
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