Losses measured in damage, dollars and jobs

BY JOSH MROZINSKI, DAVID SINGLETON and KATIE SULLIVAN

Times-Shamrock Writers

Brian Hinkley and his family’s livelihood rests in the Hallstead Plaza that his grandfather started in the 1960s – the plaza, along with a restaurant and motel, that sustained serious damage in last week’s flooding.

It’s not the first time the plaza, along with Dobb’s Country Kitchen, 25065 Route 11, and the Colonial Brick Inn & Suites, were damaged by floods.

In 2006, flood damage cost “a couple million,” Hinkley said, with at least $300,000 in damage to Dobb’s Country Kitchen alone.

Since then, the fragile economy has made it tough for businesses in the region to get by.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Lee have made it even harder, forcing the business to face even greater uncertainty as some close for now to rebuild.

Enterprises of every kind along theSusquehanna Riverfrom theNew Yorkstate line through theWyomingValleyhave borne the brunt, from eateries and supermarkets to funeral homes, agricultural supply stores and a landmark theater.

Floodwater destroyed all of the woodwork, walls, insulation, carpet and duct systems at Hinkley’s restaurant. Now in need of replacement, they were relatively new, redone after the flood in 2006.

It’s not just the damage that’s causing a financial disaster.

Five years ago, the restaurant took 75 days to reopen. Because the owner and employees were more prepared this time, Mr. Hinkley said he hopes to cut reopening time in half this time around.

“My biggest thing is keeping our employees on,” he said. “Especially in this economy.”

Keeping employees working seemed to be top priority for other businesses as well.

Rob Robinson, owner of Rob’s Market, said his workers and the community were his only motivations for reopening. “That’s the two reasons I’m coming back,” he said. “My employees, they need jobs.”

The supermarket sustained about $750,000 worth of damage, Robinson estimated. He thinks it will be about four weeks before the store can reopen.