Flooding in Central PA

brgman

muncybob wrote: »

The problem is the precipitation has been a very concentrated streaming band south to north for several days and has been right over the Susquehanna River Basin. Water tables have come up to ground surface in a wide area and all sources that empty into the Susquehanna are at full bore. Further south you go the more water of course. Now the hydraulics of the water is taking out bridges that were built POST Agnes! My daughter told me that the access bridges to Three Mile Island are in jeopardy...just nuts! Near Harrisburg the river is not expected to crest until at least Friday morning.

If the rain keeps up it won't come down.

Zeros

They had to put down two bison at the Hershey Park Zoo because they were drowning from flooding. It's pretty sad:

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/drowning-zoo-animals-shot-by-officials-during-flooding-090811

brgman

Zeros wrote: »

They had to put down two bison at the Hershey Park Zoo because they were drowning from flooding. It's pretty sad:

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/drowning-zoo-animals-shot-by-officials-during-flooding-090811

I heard that one drowned and teh other was going to so they put it down.
My office is not far from there and the guys there are telling me that they have several dead animals at the zoo and that they have put up large tarps so you cannot see in.
Sad for the animals but now we are hearing of human deaths which really takes it to the next level.
the friggin squashed banana river will be higher than ever recorded by tomorrow if they are correct.
sucks!

nadams

The river is still rising, but it has slowed its advance somewhat. 29.4ft as of 5:30. Expected crest is 31.8ft tomorrow morning. All-time record is 32.7. The rain finally stopped sometime around noon today.

Here's some arial footage of the area - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYugK5k0kMc

nadams

Fernville - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCotDInfDCY

nadams

Just an update... check out the graph I posted in my first post. Currently at 32.5, and looks like it's going to break the record of 32.7 set in 1904. This has gone way past predictions... predictions that were changed many times since Monday.

nadams

If anyone wants to see arial pictures of the flooding, you can download our local newspaper here - http://download.pressenterpriseonline.com/pdf/20110910/complete.pdf

txcoastal1

nadams wrote: »

If anyone wants to see arial pictures of the flooding, you can download our local newspaper here - http://download.pressenterpriseonline.com/pdf/20110910/complete.pdf

Only for subscribers...minus tiny thumbnails

nadams

Sorry... go to www.pressenterpriseonline.com and click on the link from there. You have to jump from their site... direct link isn't working.

txcoastal1

What are they doing about school?

nadams

txcoastal1 wrote: »

What are they doing about school?

They dismissed early on Wednesday, and were closed Thursday and Friday. I don't know who will be open on Monday... I was out driving around today, and it's almost impossible to get to some areas. I drove 50 miles to get about 10 miles away from where I started...

Yadaka356

Thanks for share

txcoastal1

Yadaka356 reported

nadams

Here's some pics from my drive today - http://nadams.smugmug.com/Other/2011-Flood-Bloomsburg-area

I didn't go down into town... those people have enough to deal with; they don't need me gawking at their troubles.

apphd

Glad to hear you were staying dry nadams, I knew you were down there somewhere in Bloomsburg. One of the few times I'm glad to be a ridge runner. I also made out ok. All the pictures you have seen can be repeated 100's of times from almost the head waters of the north branch of the Susquehanna to the Chesapeake Bay. I think that is what makes this one different, there's always been lots of flooding on this river, but most times it's sections. This time the whole length and most tributaries near where they feed the river have had major flooding. Expect a long recovery time and some shortages. Prayers to all those who have suffered losses, all in the area help your neighbors however you can.

nadams

The most devastating damage in this area came from Fishing Creek. The waters from the creek came up suddenly, and had a lot more power behind them than the river. By the time the river started flooding houses, the creek was back in its banks already. For some, it was just a double whammy... For others, it didn't matter, because their houses were already gone.

I'm sure this will spark renewed anger over the lack of a floodwall. One of the larger employers in Bloom, Kawneer, had already started building their own, after the town voted not to build one.

I heard people saying they want the government to buy out their houses because they're flood-prone. Sorry, folks... you rebuilt after the '06 flood, and now you decide it's a bad idea to live there?

apphd

If I had flood damage, I would probably be one of those looking for flood wall construction. Only problem is the water they prevent from spilling over in the area they were meant to protect raises the water level higher forcing it into the next vulnerable spot. They also develop a real, and false sense of security since they are over topped and breached at times. When this happens without pumps it can sometimes take a long time for the water to find its way back to the river. I guess the best thing would be some strange (for this area) unconventional architecture, elevated piers, no basement, etc. or move on and up to higher ground. Tough situation if you are someone in that position.

Again wish the best for all those you have suffered through this.

mantis

I'm so over all this madness. It's been like hell outside almost each and everyday. I feel you brother I'm right outside of Phily just north and our back yard and street flooded out.
I felt like I was on an Island as my house was in the middle of the flood. We are a few feet higher then the backyard and street and the water came up my driveway about 10 feet from the garage. My back yard about the way. I had a 10 foot buffer , a few more feet of water and my basement would have been a swimming pool.
This crap gotta stop.

nadams

Two more pics... neither are mine. The first came off the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau, and the second is credited to The Press Enterprise/ Jimmy May.

First - High water at the Fairgrounds, compared to '72



Second - Arial view of West Main st (Rt 11) in Bloom.

polrbehr

Hey Noah, how's things out by you now?

I just got an email today from Knoebels saying they will be re-opening on Sat 9/17, so I guess that's a good thing, eh?

I wish I knew more about the area, those pics didn't remind me of anyplace we saw back in August... although I do remember crossing a bridge over Fishing Creek (and there was a sign right next to it that said "No Fishing"-- Huh?? I wish I took a pic of that now:biggrin:).

nadams

The bottom picture is West Main st in Bloomsburg. Just to the north, Fishing creek runs parallel to that street. That's what did all the damage there.

Flood recovery is progressing, slowly... Residents finally got water service back yesterday. They also made the call last night to cancel the Bloomsburg Fair this year (fairgrounds is where the top pic was taken, and is just to the south of the bottom pic). It's the first time in the 157 year history of the fair that it's been cancelled.

Knoebels has done an amazing job cleaning up their park, as they always do in a flood. They've posted some incredible pictures on their Facebook page. If you're on FB, you should check them out.

nadams

How about a little kayaking...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKkHqvObvV8&feature=related