With the storm that caused significant damage in Rush Township and other nearby areas on Monday, some problems with road closures and detours brought up needed changes that council addressed at Thursday’s meeting.

“From now on,” Councilman Robert Leibensperger said, “whenever we have a disaster, we will shut down Ye Old Hauto Road between Route 309 and Route 54, as well as Holland Street, and will remain closed until the disaster is done. We are not going to accept traffic through those residential areas because trucks and cars are speeding and doing unnecessary things, causing more problems. So we will close them down. We’re doing it at Holland because that’s how they were going in.”

“The problem with Old Hauto Road is, it can take small traffic, but there’s no way to get big rigs to make those turns,” council President Shawn Gilbert said.

Leibensperger spoke on behalf of the supervisors, “I would like to thank the fire police, the fire department, Rush Township Sewer Department, the Rush Township Road Department, and we enlisted close to 50 residents who helped us at different roads to help open up roads to get ambulances and rescue trucks through, because there were a lot of calls for help.

“I want to thank everyone for everything they did that night. We were busy until around 3 in the morning safeguarding the township enough to allow travel by emergency vehicles only. We want to thank Nesquehoning for mutual aid, and anyone else who helped. It was a significant effort by township residents and people outside the township. We were hit really hard. We had the bulk of the problem.”

Township officials estimate that it will take at least three more weeks to clean up damage from the storms, estimating 500 to 600 truckloads of trees and wood to be taken away. Some is being chipped, and a local farmer is taking that. If anyone wants any of the fallen trees or wood, they can take any of it they want.”

The pump station was hit especially hard. Supervisors estimated it may have close to $100,000 worth of damage.