Mid-Atlantic United States flood of 2006
Encyclopedia
The Mid-Atlantic United States flood of 2006 was a significant flood that affected much of the Mid-Atlantic
region of the eastern United States
. The flooding was very widespread, affecting numerous rivers, lakes and communities from upstate
New York
to North Carolina
. It is widely considered to be the worst flooding in the region since Hurricane David
in 1979. It was also one of the worst floodings in the United States
since Hurricane Katrina
in August 2005. At least 16 deaths are related to the flooding.
The flooding was attributed to several weather factors that all came together over the region.
The primary factor was the stalling of the jet stream
just to the west of the Appalachians. That, combined with the Bermuda high over the Atlantic Ocean
, blocked any systems from moving inland or offshore. The influence of a tropical low (which nearly became a tropical storm
but did not attain a full surface circulation) off the North Carolina
coast allowed a constant stream of tropical moisture to enter the Mid-Atlantic region. The resulting heavy and prolonged rains overflowed the banks of many rivers, lakes, and streams, leading to the flooding.
A senior National Weather Service
meteorologist declared that rain events of this size take place in the region only every 200 years.
, particularly in Sussex County
, where Governor Ruth Ann Minner
declared a state of emergency. The hardest hit community was Seaford
, where 40 families are temporarily homeless and many homes and businesses were damaged.
Several important federal buildings, including the National Archives and Records Administration
, the Internal Revenue Service
, the United States Department of Justice
and some of the Smithsonian Institution
buildings were closed.
Mayor Anthony A. Williams
declared a state of emergency
as a result of the flooding and the threat of power outage
s and other problems.
Sections of Beach Drive, in Rock Creek Park
, were washed out. The road was closed for several months for repair and reinforcing. Beach Drive is the main north-south road through the park and is a major commuter artery.
. Over 2,200 people had to be evacuated from the area south of Lake Needwood
in Rockville
due to concerns of a dam
break there (the earthen dam was leaking). If the dam were to break, communities downstream could be under as much as 22 feet (7 m) of flood water. The dam did not break, however, and the evacuations ended on the evening of June 29. U.S. Highway 29 (Colesville Road) in Silver Spring
and Maryland State Highway 198 near Fort Meade
were among the dozens of roadways closed due to high water. Parts of Laurel
in Prince George's County
were also evacuated after a floodgates were opened to relieve pressure on a nearby dam.
In Frederick County
, three people were killed when they attempted to cross the flood waters from Middle Creek
. Also in Frederick County, a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy drowned while swimming in a swollen creek that feeds into the Monocacy River
. On July 4 in Prince George's County
, the body of a 22-year-old man was recovered. It was determined that his car was swept off U.S. 29 by the floodwaters nearly two weeks prior.
In Harford County
, several inches of rain fell for several days. Parts of the Susquehanna River
and Deer Creek
flooded, and several rescues were performed.
Damage to roads and agriculture
in the Eastern Shore
region alone was estimated to be around $12 million.
On Friday, June 30, Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich
requested federal disaster aid for five Maryland counties: Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, and Montgomery. However, Ehrlich stated in a letter requesting the aid to President George W. Bush
that more counties could be included after damage assessments. Governor Ehrlich stated that damages in Maryland could exceed $10 million. Ehrlich also requested, in addition to federal disaster aid, funds for "hazard mitigation assistance", which is federal money used to help governments rebuild antiquated structures with modern structures. Ehrlich also obtained loans from the federal Small Business Administration
to help private property owners, both residential and business, to rebuild or repair damaged buildings.
was along and near the Delaware River
, on the border with Pennsylvania. Over 1,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas of Trenton
, and some state government buildings were closed.
In addition, Trenton's water filtration system was shut down because of debris floating down the Delaware, and Mayor Douglas Palmer
called for conservation, saying the city had only about two days of drinkable water.
The river was expected to crest Friday at nearly 8 feet (2.5 m) over flood stage, the fourth-highest level on record for Trenton.
Governor
Jon Corzine
had declared a state of emergency for the entire state as a result of the flooding.
Significant flooding took place in the Southern Tier
region, particularly around Binghamton
and Waverly
/Sayre PA
(on the New York-Pennsylvania border). Riverside communities were severely flooded and many evacuations took place in the region which stretched along the Susquehanna, Chenango, Delaware and Unadilla Rivers. The Susquehanna River in Bainbridge New York has a flood stage set at 13 feet, the river crested at 27 feet, 14 feet over the flood stage. This was the highest the river had ever reached in the Bainbridge area. In Broome County
alone, over 5,000 people were forced to evacuate, particularly in the submerged village of Conklin
.
Two people were killed when a section of Interstate 88
washed away and two trucks drove into the chasm created.
The Mohawk River
valley also experienced significant flooding, with damage occurring to Lock 10 on the Erie Canal
.
In Port Jervis
, the Delaware River
flooded low areas of the city that had barely recovered from the record flooding of April 2005. The Neversink River
also swelled, prompting officials to close the Neversink bridge. The Mid-Delaware Bridge
(Carrying US 6 & 209) was also closed.
Governor
George Pataki
estimated that damage in the state could exceed $100 million.
The worst flooding in the state took place in the Susquehanna River
valley and its tributaries. Over 200,000 residents in northeastern Pennsylvania
had to be evacuated due to the rising floodwaters. Damage in Susquehanna County
alone totaled over $100 million (2006 USD).
Extensive river flooding was reported in dozens of communities in eastern Pennsylvania. Over 70 people had to be rescued from rooftops by USCG
helicopter
s after being stranded by the floodwaters.
At the Wilkes-Barre
flood protection levee, the river was at 41 feet (12.4 m), which was about the record level reached in Hurricane Agnes
and at which point catastrophic flooding takes place. Forecasts predicted that the river would crest at above 39 feet (11.6 m), exceeding any other event other than Agnes and leading to significant flooding in other communities with less protection. Luzerne County
officials said the large evacuations were precautionary, as there was a potential for the area to be isolated if the most severe predictions took hold.
In Reading
, the Schuylkill River
's flood stage is 13 feet (4 m). However the river was projected to crest at about 23 feet (7 m), resulting in the worst flooding in the area since Hurricane Agnes.
In Easton
, the Delaware River
crested 17 feet (5.2 m) above flood stage.
Riegelsville
was 14 feet (4.2 m) above flood level. New Hope
was 8 feet (2.5 m) above flood level.
In Harrisburg
, a festival's start in the city was pushed back, and cut down, due to the potential for the flood, and the Harrisburg Senators
were forced to play 2 "home games" in Bowie, Maryland
due to flooding in Commerce Bank Park
.
Philadelphia's Kelly Drive
and West River Drive were closed.
The Knoebels
amusement park
in Elysburg was closed due to the flooding of local creeks and did not reopen until Friday afternoon.
Manayunk
issued a mandatory evacuation for the area between Main Street and Ridge and Levering.
Severe flooding of the Swatara Creek near Hershey
and Hummelstown closed many roads in the area, and damaged a number of homes. The creek crested at 16.12 feet around 7am on June 29, breaking the previous official record of 15.37 feet, which was set September 27, 1975. However, this did not come close to the flooding after Hurricane Agnes, which caused the creek to crest at approximately 28 feet on June 23, 1972.
Hummelstown was flooded briefly (3–4 days); mainly across the Duke and Water streets, as well as the railroad tracks.
In Pike County
, the Delaware River
caused extensive damage to Matamoras Borough
and Westfall Township
. The Delaware crested in the early hours of 29 June at 32.16 feet at Milford
(as per NOAA hydrograph ) The record level of the river at Milford is 35.5 feet and flood stage is 25 feet.
As of Friday, 30 June, US Highway 209 between Milford and the Monroe County
line at Lehman Township
was closed.
In Wayne County
, the opening of the Lake Wallenpaupack
spillway caused damage downstream. The Delaware river also caused damage on the eastern border of the county. Damage in Wayne County totaled to about $50 million (2006 USD).http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~635671
Of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania, 46 were under a state of emergency as declared by Governor Ed Rendell
. Four deaths were confirmed in Pennsylvania; two in Luzerne County
, one near Gettysburg
, and one in rural Wayne County
.
In Lackawaxen, the Zane Grey
museum, part of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
, sustained significant damage.
, particularly in the north. Mudslides were also witnessed in the mountainous regions. A mudslide closed the Capital Beltway
in Alexandria
for several hours on Monday, June 26.
Governor
Tim Kaine
declared a state of emergency for the entire Commonwealth of Virginia.
Mid-Atlantic States
The Mid-Atlantic states, also called middle Atlantic states or simply the mid Atlantic, form a region of the United States generally located between New England and the South...
region of the eastern United States
Eastern United States
The Eastern United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River. The first two tiers of states west of the Mississippi have traditionally been considered part of the West, but can be included in the East today; usually in...
. The flooding was very widespread, affecting numerous rivers, lakes and communities from upstate
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. It is widely considered to be the worst flooding in the region since Hurricane David
Hurricane David
Hurricane David was the fourth named tropical cyclone, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season. A Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, David was among the deadliest hurricanes in the latter half of the 20th century, killing...
in 1979. It was also one of the worst floodings in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
since Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
in August 2005. At least 16 deaths are related to the flooding.
Meteorological history
The primary factor was the stalling of the jet stream
Jet stream
Jet streams are fast flowing, narrow air currents found in the atmospheres of some planets, including Earth. The main jet streams are located near the tropopause, the transition between the troposphere and the stratosphere . The major jet streams on Earth are westerly winds...
just to the west of the Appalachians. That, combined with the Bermuda high over the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, blocked any systems from moving inland or offshore. The influence of a tropical low (which nearly became a tropical storm
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
but did not attain a full surface circulation) off the North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
coast allowed a constant stream of tropical moisture to enter the Mid-Atlantic region. The resulting heavy and prolonged rains overflowed the banks of many rivers, lakes, and streams, leading to the flooding.
A senior National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
meteorologist declared that rain events of this size take place in the region only every 200 years.
Delaware
Considerable flooding occurred in much of DelawareDelaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, particularly in Sussex County
Sussex County, Delaware
Sussex County is a county located in the southern part of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 the population was 197,145, an increase of 25.9% over the previous decade. The county seat is Georgetown. The Seaford Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Sussex County.Sussex County is...
, where Governor Ruth Ann Minner
Ruth Ann Minner
Ruth Ann Minner is an American politician and businesswoman from Milford, in Kent County, Delaware. She is a member of the Democratic Party who served in the Delaware General Assembly, as the 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Delaware and two terms as the first female Governor of Delaware.-Early life...
declared a state of emergency. The hardest hit community was Seaford
Seaford, Delaware
Seaford is a city located along the Nanticoke River in Sussex County, Delaware. According to the 2010 Census Bureau figures, the population of the city is 6,928, an increase of 3.4% from the 2000 census...
, where 40 families are temporarily homeless and many homes and businesses were damaged.
District of Columbia
Significant street and river flooding was reported in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Several important federal buildings, including the National Archives and Records Administration
National Archives and Records Administration
The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent agency of the United States government charged with preserving and documenting government and historical records and with increasing public access to those documents, which comprise the National Archives...
, the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
, the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
and some of the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
buildings were closed.
Mayor Anthony A. Williams
Anthony A. Williams
Anthony Allen "Tony" Williams is an American politician who served as the fifth mayor of the District of Columbia for two terms, from 1999 to 2007. He had previously served as chief financial officer for the District, managing to balance the budget and achieve a surplus within two years of...
declared a state of emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
as a result of the flooding and the threat of power outage
Power outage
A power outage is a short- or long-term loss of the electric power to an area.There are many causes of power failures in an electricity network...
s and other problems.
Sections of Beach Drive, in Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park is a large urban natural area with public park facilities that bisects Washington, D.C. The park is administered by the National Park Service.-Rock Creek Park:The main section of the park contains , or , along the Rock Creek Valley...
, were washed out. The road was closed for several months for repair and reinforcing. Beach Drive is the main north-south road through the park and is a major commuter artery.
Maryland
The most severe flooding took place in and around Montgomery CountyMontgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
. Over 2,200 people had to be evacuated from the area south of Lake Needwood
Lake Needwood
Lake Needwood is a reservoir in Derwood, Maryland just east of Rockville, in the eastern part of Montgomery County that is located on Rock Creek. The lake was created to provide flood control. It also protects the water quality of the creek by functioning as a retention basin to trap sediment from...
in Rockville
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
due to concerns of a dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
break there (the earthen dam was leaking). If the dam were to break, communities downstream could be under as much as 22 feet (7 m) of flood water. The dam did not break, however, and the evacuations ended on the evening of June 29. U.S. Highway 29 (Colesville Road) in Silver Spring
Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
and Maryland State Highway 198 near Fort Meade
Fort Meade, Maryland
Fort Meade is a census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. The population was 9,882 at the 2000 census. It is the home to the National Security Agency, which is located on the US Army post Fort George G...
were among the dozens of roadways closed due to high water. Parts of Laurel
Laurel, Maryland
Laurel is a city in northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Incorporated in 1870, the city maintains a historic district including its Main Street...
in Prince George's County
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
were also evacuated after a floodgates were opened to relieve pressure on a nearby dam.
In Frederick County
Frederick County, Maryland
Frederick County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border of Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 233,385....
, three people were killed when they attempted to cross the flood waters from Middle Creek
Middle Creek (Toms Creek)
Middle Creek is a stream in Pennsylvania and Maryland. It is a tributary of Toms Creek, joining it near Emmitsburg, Maryland. Water from Middle Creek flows via Toms Creek, the Monocacy River, and the Potomac River to Chesapeake Bay and eventually the Atlantic Ocean....
. Also in Frederick County, a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy drowned while swimming in a swollen creek that feeds into the Monocacy River
Monocacy River
The Monocacy River is a free-flowing tributary of the Potomac River, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean via the Chesapeake Bay. The river is long, with a drainage area of about...
. On July 4 in Prince George's County
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
, the body of a 22-year-old man was recovered. It was determined that his car was swept off U.S. 29 by the floodwaters nearly two weeks prior.
In Harford County
Harford County, Maryland
Harford County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 244,826. Its county seat is Bel Air. Harford County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.-History:...
, several inches of rain fell for several days. Parts of the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
and Deer Creek
Deer Creek (Maryland)
Deer Creek is a river in Maryland that flows through the scenic areas of Harford County and empties into the Susquehanna River, roughly halfway between the Interstate 95 bridge and Conowingo Dam...
flooded, and several rescues were performed.
Damage to roads and agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
in the Eastern Shore
Eastern Shore of Maryland
The Eastern Shore of Maryland is a territorial part of the U.S. state of Maryland that lies predominately on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay and consists of nine counties. The origin of term Eastern Shore was derived to distinguish a territorial part of the State of Maryland from the Western...
region alone was estimated to be around $12 million.
On Friday, June 30, Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich
Robert Ehrlich
Robert Leroy "Bob" Ehrlich, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 60th Governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007. A Republican, he became governor after defeating Democratic opponent Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a member of the Kennedy family, 51% to 48% in the 2002 elections...
requested federal disaster aid for five Maryland counties: Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, and Montgomery. However, Ehrlich stated in a letter requesting the aid to President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
that more counties could be included after damage assessments. Governor Ehrlich stated that damages in Maryland could exceed $10 million. Ehrlich also requested, in addition to federal disaster aid, funds for "hazard mitigation assistance", which is federal money used to help governments rebuild antiquated structures with modern structures. Ehrlich also obtained loans from the federal Small Business Administration
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration is a United States government agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses...
to help private property owners, both residential and business, to rebuild or repair damaged buildings.
New Jersey
The heaviest flooding in New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
was along and near the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
, on the border with Pennsylvania. Over 1,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas of Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, and some state government buildings were closed.
In addition, Trenton's water filtration system was shut down because of debris floating down the Delaware, and Mayor Douglas Palmer
Douglas Palmer
Douglas Harold Palmer was the first African American mayor of Trenton, New Jersey.- Biography :He was born in Trenton and attended Trenton public schools. He then graduated from the Bordentown Military Institute in Bordentown, New Jersey...
called for conservation, saying the city had only about two days of drinkable water.
The river was expected to crest Friday at nearly 8 feet (2.5 m) over flood stage, the fourth-highest level on record for Trenton.
Governor
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
had declared a state of emergency for the entire state as a result of the flooding.
New York
Southern Tier
The Southern Tier is a geographical term that refers to the counties of New York State west of the Catskill Mountains along the northern border of Pennsylvania. It is a loosely defined term that generally includes the counties that border Pennsylvania west of Delaware County inclusive...
region, particularly around Binghamton
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
and Waverly
Waverly, Tioga County, New York
----Waverly is the largest village in Tioga County, New York, United States. It is located southeast of Elmira in the Southern Tier region. This village was incorporated as the southwest part of the town of Barton in 1854...
/Sayre PA
Sayre, Pennsylvania
Sayre is the largest borough in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, northwest of Scranton. In the past, various iron products were made there. In 1900, 5,243 people lived there; in 1910, 6,426 people lived there, and in 1940, 7,569 persons made their homes in Sayre. The population was 5,813 at the 2000...
(on the New York-Pennsylvania border). Riverside communities were severely flooded and many evacuations took place in the region which stretched along the Susquehanna, Chenango, Delaware and Unadilla Rivers. The Susquehanna River in Bainbridge New York has a flood stage set at 13 feet, the river crested at 27 feet, 14 feet over the flood stage. This was the highest the river had ever reached in the Bainbridge area. In Broome County
Broome County, New York
Broome County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 200,600. It was named in honor of John Broome, who was lieutenant governor in 1806 when Broome County was established. Its county seat is Binghamton, which is also its major city. The current...
alone, over 5,000 people were forced to evacuate, particularly in the submerged village of Conklin
Conklin, New York
Conklin is a town in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 5,940 at the 2000 census.The Town of Conklin is on the south border of the county, southeast of Binghamton, New York.- History :The area was first settled around 1788....
.
Two people were killed when a section of Interstate 88
Interstate 88 (east)
Interstate 88 is an intrastate Interstate Highway entirely within the U.S. state of New York. Its western end is at Interstate 81 in Binghamton and its eastern end is at Interstate 90 in Schenectady. It serves as an important connector route from Albany to Binghamton, Elmira , and...
washed away and two trucks drove into the chasm created.
The Mohawk River
Mohawk River
The Mohawk River is a river in the U.S. state of New York. It is the largest tributary of the Hudson River. The Mohawk flows into the Hudson in the Capital District, a few miles north of the city of Albany. The river is named for the Mohawk Nation of the Iroquois Confederacy...
valley also experienced significant flooding, with damage occurring to Lock 10 on the Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
.
In Port Jervis
Port Jervis, New York
Port Jervis is a city on the Delaware River in western Orange County, New York, with a population of 8,860 at the 2000 census. The communities of Deerpark, Huguenot, Sparrowbush, and Greenville are adjacent to Port Jervis, and the towns of Montague, New Jersey and Matamoras, Pennsylvania face the...
, the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
flooded low areas of the city that had barely recovered from the record flooding of April 2005. The Neversink River
Neversink River
The Neversink River is a tributary of the Delaware River in southeastern New York in the United States...
also swelled, prompting officials to close the Neversink bridge. The Mid-Delaware Bridge
Mid-Delaware Bridge
The Mid-Delaware Bridge, sometimes known as the Port Jervis-Matamoras Bridge or the Fourth Barrett Bridge, is a continuous truss bridge which carries U.S. Routes 6 and 209 across that river between those two communities and thus the states of New York and Pennsylvania...
(Carrying US 6 & 209) was also closed.
Governor
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
George Pataki
George Pataki
George Elmer Pataki is an American politician who was the 53rd Governor of New York. A member of the Republican Party, Pataki served three consecutive four-year terms from January 1, 1995 until December 31, 2006.- Early life :...
estimated that damage in the state could exceed $100 million.
Pennsylvania
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
valley and its tributaries. Over 200,000 residents in northeastern Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
had to be evacuated due to the rising floodwaters. Damage in Susquehanna County
Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,238 people, 16,529 households, and 11,785 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 21,829 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
alone totaled over $100 million (2006 USD).
Extensive river flooding was reported in dozens of communities in eastern Pennsylvania. Over 70 people had to be rescued from rooftops by USCG
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s after being stranded by the floodwaters.
At the Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
flood protection levee, the river was at 41 feet (12.4 m), which was about the record level reached in Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes was the first tropical storm and first hurricane of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season. A rare June hurricane, it made landfall on the Florida Panhandle before moving northeastward and ravaging the Mid-Atlantic region as a tropical storm...
and at which point catastrophic flooding takes place. Forecasts predicted that the river would crest at above 39 feet (11.6 m), exceeding any other event other than Agnes and leading to significant flooding in other communities with less protection. Luzerne County
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
- Demographics :As of the 2010 census, the county was 90.7% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 3.3% were of some other race, and 1.5% were two or more races. 6.7% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry...
officials said the large evacuations were precautionary, as there was a potential for the area to be isolated if the most severe predictions took hold.
In Reading
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
, the Schuylkill River
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
's flood stage is 13 feet (4 m). However the river was projected to crest at about 23 feet (7 m), resulting in the worst flooding in the area since Hurricane Agnes.
In Easton
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
, the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
crested 17 feet (5.2 m) above flood stage.
Riegelsville
Riegelsville, Pennsylvania
Riegelsville is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 868 at the 2010 census.-History:Benjamin Riegel founded Riegelsville. The original, and now historic, that he built in 1838 still stands. This historic stone inn has offered food and lodging to Bucks County...
was 14 feet (4.2 m) above flood level. New Hope
New Hope, Pennsylvania
New Hope, formerly known as Coryell's Ferry, is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA. The population was 2,528 at the 2010 census. The borough lies on the west bank of the Delaware River at its confluence with Aquetong Creek. A two-lane bridge carries automobile and foot traffic across the...
was 8 feet (2.5 m) above flood level.
In Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
, a festival's start in the city was pushed back, and cut down, due to the potential for the flood, and the Harrisburg Senators
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
were forced to play 2 "home games" in Bowie, Maryland
Bowie, Maryland
Bowie is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 54,727 at the 2010 census. Bowie has grown from a small railroad stop to the largest municipality in Prince George's County, and the fifth most populous city and third largest city by area in the state of...
due to flooding in Commerce Bank Park
Commerce Bank Park
Metro Bank Park is a baseball park in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is the home field of the Harrisburg Senators minor league baseball team. The original structure was built in 1987 and it was called Riverside Stadium until 2004. Currently, the ballpark has a capacity of 6,187 people. The ballpark...
.
Philadelphia's Kelly Drive
Kelly Drive
Kelly Drive, or more formally, John B. Kelly Drive, is a winding four-mile road along the Schuylkill River from Eakins Oval before the Philadelphia Museum of Art to the neighborhood of East Falls, Philadelphia, just south of Wissahickon Creek, where it connects with Lincoln Drive.-East River...
and West River Drive were closed.
The Knoebels
Knoebels
Knoebels Amusement Resort is a family-owned and -operated amusement park, picnic grove and campground in Elysburg, Pennsylvania. Opened in 1926, the park has more than 57 rides, free admission, two wooden roller coasters, a 1913 carousel and a haunted house dark ride that was featured on the...
amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
in Elysburg was closed due to the flooding of local creeks and did not reopen until Friday afternoon.
Manayunk
Manayunk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Manayunk is a neighborhood in the northwestern section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States. Located on the banks of the Schuylkill River, it contains the first canal begun in the United States . The area's name comes from the language of the Lenape Indians...
issued a mandatory evacuation for the area between Main Street and Ridge and Levering.
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey is a census-designated place in Derry Township, Dauphin County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The community is located 14 miles east of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hershey has no legal status as an incorporated municipality...
and Hummelstown closed many roads in the area, and damaged a number of homes. The creek crested at 16.12 feet around 7am on June 29, breaking the previous official record of 15.37 feet, which was set September 27, 1975. However, this did not come close to the flooding after Hurricane Agnes, which caused the creek to crest at approximately 28 feet on June 23, 1972.
Hummelstown was flooded briefly (3–4 days); mainly across the Duke and Water streets, as well as the railroad tracks.
In Pike County
Pike County, Pennsylvania
-National protected areas:* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area * Middle Delaware National Scenic River * Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River -Demographics:...
, the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
caused extensive damage to Matamoras Borough
Matamoras, Pennsylvania
Matamoras is a borough in Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,469 at the 2010 census. It is the easternmost town in Pennsylvania.-History:...
and Westfall Township
Westfall Township, Pennsylvania
Westfall Township is a township in Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,323 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 29.4 square miles , of which, 28.8 square miles of it is land and...
. The Delaware crested in the early hours of 29 June at 32.16 feet at Milford
Milford, Pennsylvania
Milford is a borough in Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat. Its population was 1,021 at the 2010 census. It was founded in 1796 by Judge John Biddis, one of the state's first four circuit judges, who named the settlement after his ancestral home in Wales.Milford has a...
(as per NOAA hydrograph ) The record level of the river at Milford is 35.5 feet and flood stage is 25 feet.
As of Friday, 30 June, US Highway 209 between Milford and the Monroe County
Monroe County, Pennsylvania
-National protected areas:* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area * Middle Delaware National Scenic River -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there are 176,567 people, 49,454 households, and 36,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 228 people per square mile...
line at Lehman Township
Lehman Township, Pike County, Pennsylvania
Lehman Township is a township in Pike County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 10,663 at the 2010 census.-Communities:Lehman Township is home to several communities. The unincorporated community of Bushkill was a well-known small town in the region but has since fallen on hard times...
was closed.
In Wayne County
Wayne County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,722 people, 18,350 households, and 12,936 families residing in the county. The population density was 65 people per square mile . There were 30,593 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile...
, the opening of the Lake Wallenpaupack
Lake Wallenpaupack
Lake Wallenpaupack is a reservoir in Pennsylvania, USA. It was created in 1926 by PPL, the Pennsylvania Power & Light Company, for hydroelectric purposes. It is located near Hawley, on the border of Pike and Wayne counties in northeastern Pennsylvania...
spillway caused damage downstream. The Delaware river also caused damage on the eastern border of the county. Damage in Wayne County totaled to about $50 million (2006 USD).http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~635671
Of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania, 46 were under a state of emergency as declared by Governor Ed Rendell
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
. Four deaths were confirmed in Pennsylvania; two in Luzerne County
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
- Demographics :As of the 2010 census, the county was 90.7% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 3.3% were of some other race, and 1.5% were two or more races. 6.7% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry...
, one near Gettysburg
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is a borough that is the county seat, part of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and the eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park and has 3 institutions of higher learning: Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, and...
, and one in rural Wayne County
Wayne County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,722 people, 18,350 households, and 12,936 families residing in the county. The population density was 65 people per square mile . There were 30,593 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile...
.
In Lackawaxen, the Zane Grey
Zane Grey
Zane Grey was an American author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories that presented an idealized image of the Old West. Riders of the Purple Sage was his bestselling book. In addition to the success of his printed works, they later had second lives and continuing influence...
museum, part of the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River
The Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River is located near Narrowsburg, New York, and Lackawaxen, Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River. It includes parts of five counties along this section of the river: Delaware, Orange, and Sullivan in New York, and Pike and Wayne in Pennsylvania.The site...
, sustained significant damage.
Virginia
Flooding occurred in many areas in VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, particularly in the north. Mudslides were also witnessed in the mountainous regions. A mudslide closed the Capital Beltway
Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway)
Interstate 495 is a Interstate Highway that surrounds the United States' capital of Washington, D.C., and its inner suburbs in adjacent Maryland and Virginia. I-495 is widely known as the Capital Beltway or simply the Beltway, especially when the context of Washington, D.C., is clear...
in Alexandria
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
for several hours on Monday, June 26.
Governor
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
Tim Kaine
Tim Kaine
Timothy Michael "Tim" Kaine is a Virginia politician. Kaine served as the 70th Governor of Virginia from 2006 to 2010, and was the chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2009 to 2011...
declared a state of emergency for the entire Commonwealth of Virginia.