Montco Spent $3.5M To Help Victims Of Ida

NORRISTOWN — Six months after Hurricane Ida struck the region, 274 people from 84 families are still living in hotels, Montgomery County officials said Monday.

The hotels are located near Collegeville, Oaks, Plymouth Meeting, Norristown, King of Prussia and Willow Grove.

The county is working to find housing for the victims. Many of the homes that were destroyed are in government housing developments.

Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, commissioner chairwoman, said the county has spent $3.5 million on helping the victims recover from the Sept. 2 storm.

As a result of Ida, three people died in Montgomery County, and 54 people and 12 pets were rescued by members of the Montgomery County Urban Search and Rescue Team.

Numerous vehicles were submerged in water; houses were flooded; and homes were destroyed.

"All hands effort"

County officials said this is the first time the county has experienced a weather disaster of this magnitude in many years and is already preparing in the event of another storm causing major flooding.

“This was truly an all hands effort,” Arkoosh said, thanking the rescue team for its tireless efforts during a ceremony Wednesday. "I hope we never see anything like this again."

Commissioners Kevin Lawrence Jr. and Joseph Gale also thanked the rescue team for saving lives

“I truly admire you,” Gale said to the rescue team.

William Messerschmidt, assistant director of emergency management operations, said the team evaluated the potential devastation of Ida in advance and was prepared.

The Federal Emergency Management Association has since warned the county that this is mostly likely going to happen again, Messerschmidt said.

Ida caused historical flooding, unleashing about 10.25 inches of rain in Montgomery County.

The National Weather Service investigated an area that sustained significant damage during the storm and determined that an EF-2 tornado with winds of up to 130 miles per hour touched down in Upper Dublin and Horsham townships, county officials said.