Waynesboro Mayor Dade Royer discussed borough governmental news and recent local challenges during a July 31 chat at his Town Hall office.

Waynesboro Storm Damage

On July 28, a severe storm hit Waynesboro, dumping an estimated 3.5 inches of rain in only 45 minutes. Royer recalled that as the storm approached, he heard continuous thunder that wouldn’t stop rumbling. A short time later, during an appointment on Walnut Street, the Mayor saw firsthand how floodwaters quickly rose on the town’s streets, even in areas occupying high ground. 

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Royer said about the rainfall, which fell in torrents. He quoted statistics about how much rain fell on Waynesboro that day: 207 million gallons, or 4.6 million gallons per minute. That incredible total amount equals the water held in the town’s reservoir.

After the storm passed, Royer anticipated where the greatest storm damage would likely be found: South Potomac Street. “That area always has a rough time after a heavy rain.” He said pressure was so high in the Green Street storm sewer (between Fifth and Sixth Streets, off Potomac) that part of the street and an adjoining alley collapsed. One neighborhood basement was flooded with 8 feet of water.

That evening, Royer inspected a specially designed stormwater culvert near Green Hill Cemetery and said the upgraded water drainage system performed as intended. He said the raging water flow there looked like a “whitewater river.”

The mayor shared a video of a property on Abigail Drive, with floodwaters tumbling down steps like a waterfall and into a home’s basement. He also stated that areas on CV Avenue, another local spot prone to flooding, suffered storm damage.

On Tuesday evening, the mayor issued a Disaster Declaration due to the flooding. “That’s the first step to get aid from state and federal agencies,” Royer said. On Thursday morning, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) arrived in Waynesboro to assess the damage. Going door-to-door with an 8-man team, the task force members talked to homeowners. Waynesboro’s government met them beforehand to explain the town’s topography and how to locate trouble spots.

To qualify for disaster assistance, certain criteria must be met first, and Waynesboro’s losses were sufficient to meet that standard, as at least 35 homes suffered storm damage.

The storm was considered a 500-year event, but that term is misleading. A similar severe storm could happen sooner, since weather event chances are measured by the probability of it happening in a single calendar year- in this case, that annual chance is .02 percent. Working with Borough Manager Jason Stains and with help from State Rep. Chad Reichard, Waynesboro’s government coordinated recovery efforts with state agencies.

“We’ll keep working with PEMA and go through the process,” Royer said. He stated that the borough had also experienced losses, but local government has greater resources to deal with disasters. “My concern is for the people who got hit hard,” Royer said. “Whatever we can do to help them, we’ll pursue that.” Most homeowner insurance plans do not cover flood damage.

Waynesboro’s government welcomed PEMA as they performed work in town. “We thanked them; those relationships matter,” Royer said. “We want them to know that we appreciate what they’re doing. If they need our help, we’re here for them.”

Assessing the borough’s storm response, Royer was committed to a satisfactory conclusion. “We’ve done everything we can to this point, but we’ll keep striving to help our residents.” Royer praised Borough Manager Stains for his tireless work during a period where he got little sleep. “Jason has done a great job handling this situation.”

As the Mayor and local officials coordinated with the Police and Fire Chiefs, Royer was thankful. “We have a good group of people here who put the community first. We tackle the issues and move forward.”