Flood — Northampton, Pennsylvania

2005-04-02 to 2005-04-05 · Northampton, Pennsylvania

Wider weather episode

For the second time within seven months a greater than 50-year storm affected the Delaware River Basin and its tributaries. In all, about 5,715 homes were evacuated along the Delaware and Susquehanna Rivers in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Ed Rendell quickly declared a state of emergency and made money available to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management for flood related needs. Many homes and businesses that were flooded because of the remnants of Hurricane Ivan, were flooded again. The crests along the Delaware River were even higher than in September 2004 and were the highest crests since 1955. In many places, it was the second or third highest crest on record for the Delaware River. In Monroe, Northampton and Bucks Counties, about 2,200 homes and businesses were flooded, 40 homes were destroyed. Many of the homes and businesses that were flooded, had flooding into the first floor of their dwellings. About 4,300 people were evacuated, with the greatest number in Bucks County. Shelters were opened in schools, fire houses and churches. Both the Red Cross and Salvation Army assisted with the evacuations and distributing food and drinks. Many major roads were closed. Some will be closed for months because of the damage. A dozen low-lying bridges from Trenton north were closed and damaged by the flooding. Many schools along river towns were closed on Monday April 4th, some also on Tuesday April 5th. The Delaware Canal took another major hit as the Delaware River merged with the canal. Damage from the remnants of Ivan and the latest storm was estimated at $40 million dollars. In the three county area total damage was estimated at $120 million dollars. The worst damage was reported in Easton (Northampton County), Yardley and New Hope (Bucks County). Miraculously there were no deaths or major injuries. Residents and businesses found raw sewage that backed into water-logged cellars. Many furnaces, water heaters, electrical panels, washing machines and dryers were destroyed. In many places, everything that was stored below ground level was destroyed. The flood waters dislodged propane and oil tanks. Some basements were contaminated with oil. First floor damage included ruined hardwood floors, furniture, carpeting, vinyl flooring and dry walls. The homes that were greatly affected had their electricity and gas service turned off and in many instances had to get the former replaced. Private wells had to be tested for contamination. The heavy rain loosened the ground and caused trees to be knocked down and carried down river along with waste receptacles, propane tanks and beer kegs. As river levels rose, they damaged the low-lying bridges across the Delaware River. Damage to the bridges was estimated at $1.5 million with the greatest damage and longest closure to the Washington Crossing Bridge between Bucks and Mercer Counties. On April 15th, President George W. Bush declared a major disaster area in Northampton, Bucks and Monroe Counties. This opened the door for federal aid for homeowners and businesses. Persons could get grants for temporary housing and to clean and rebuild their homes. Homeowners and businesses were now eligible for low interest loans to cover uninsured property losses and other federally funded programs.In Northampton County, municipalities along the Delaware River fared the worst with downtown areas of Easton, Portland as well as Upper and Lower Mount Bethel Townships hit the hardest. About 500 persons were evacuated throughout the county, some from the second floor of their dwellings. About 700 homes and businesses were damaged, 32 homes were destroyed, another 160 suffered major damage. Two small bridges were destroyed, 10 others (including along the Delaware River) were damaged. One park was destroyed and 16 others were damaged. Around 100 roads were damaged. Four sewer pumping stations in Easton were heavily damaged. Three culverts were destroyed and many more were damaged. One retention pond dam was damaged. Electrical and gas services were suspended in flooded areas of Easton and Portland. About 200 electrical meters in the county had to be replaced, most of them in Portland. Large sections of Pennsylvania State Route 611 was closed. The Delaware Canal took another major hit in addition to the damage that was done to it by the remnants of Ivan. It was expected to take years to repair the canal. In Portland Borough, the downtown region was seriously flooded as the Jacoby Creek also flooded. Water reached up to seven feet in some stores. In Upper Mount Bethel Township, 200 people were evacuated. In Forks Township, twenty-three homes suffered major damage as the Bushkill Creek also flooded. Some homes were submerged. In Easton, downtown commercial businesses were flooded, some had water to their roofs. All commercial businesses were opened by the end of the month. But, the Northampton County public welfare office was closed indefinitely. The Safe Harbor shelter reopened on June 20th. In Williams Township, about 70 homes were heavily damaged. The Easton-Phillipsburg free bridge was closed on the 3rd and was not re-opened until the 7th. The heavy rain also caused some flooding inland also as the Monocacy Creek flooded in downtown Bethlehem and affected the Colonial Industrial Quarter. The Delaware River at Belvidere crested 27.24 feet on April 4th, the third highest crest on record and highest crest since August 19, 1955. Flood stage is 22 feet. The Delaware River in Easton crested at 37.2 feet on April 4th, the third highest crest on record and highest since August 19, 1955. Flood stage is 22 feet. The Monocacy Creek in Bethlehem was above its 4.5 foot flood stage from 642 p.m. EST on the 2nd through 707 p.m. EDT on the 3rd. It crested at 5.44 feet at 530 a.m. EDT on the 2nd. The Lehigh River at Walnutport was above its 8 foot flood stage from 847 p.m. EST on the 2nd through 730 p.m. EDT on the 3rd. It crested at 10.49 feet at 515 a.m. EDT on the 3rd. The Lehigh River in Bethlehem was briefly above its 16 foot flood stage from 8 a.m. through 931 a.m. EDT on the 3rd. It crested at 16.06 feet at 830 a.m. EDT. The Lehigh River at Glendon was above its 19 foot flood stage from 1122 p.m. EST on the 2nd through 455 p.m. EDT on the 3rd. It crested at 20.81 feet at 1015 a.m. EDT on the 3rd. Rain started just around Midnight EST on the 2nd and continued throughout the day on the 2nd. It fell at its heaviest during the afternoon and early evening. Storm totals averaged around 4 inches and included 4.30 inches in Forks Township and 4.12 inches in Williams Township. The flooding heavy rain was caused by a low pressure system that moved from the southern Gulf Coast States on the morning of April 1st northeast to the eastern Tennessee Valley during the evening of the 1st, to far western Virginia just after Midnight EST on the 2nd, into central Virginia at 7 a.m. EST on the 2nd, near Washington, D.C. at 1 p.m. EST on the 2nd, near Lancaster, Pennsylvania at 7 p.m. EST on the 2nd, near Scranton, Pennsylvania at 1 a.m. EST on the 3rd, over the Finger Lakes in New York at 8 a.m. EDT on the 3rd and into eastern Lake Ontario at 2 p.m. EDT on the 3rd. The strong southeast flow preceding the low pressure system was able to entrain Atlantic Ocean moisture in addition to the Gulf of Mexico moisture into the system. The southeast flow also was ideal for orographic lifting in the Poconos and other higher terrain. The flooding was exacerbated by the already wet soil conditions due to heavy rain on both March 23rd and 28th. In addition, along the Delaware River, snowmelt in the upper basin in New York State and because the New York City Delaware County, New York reservoirs were already at capacity added to the flooding.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5449415. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.