Flash Flood — Carbon, Pennsylvania

2006-06-27 to 2006-06-28 · near Countywide, Carbon, Pennsylvania

Wider weather episode

Several days of heavy rain throughout the Lehigh River Basin culminated with flooding along the main stem of the Lehigh River. President George W. Bush declared Carbon County a disaster area. Sporadic periods of heavy rain started on the 23rd, but the most widespread and heaviest rain fell from the late afternoon of the 27th into the morning of the 28th. This caused flash flooding along smaller streams and exacerbated the ongoing flooding along the major rivers. Event totals in Carbon County averaged eight to twelve inches.Governor Ed Rendell declared a disaster emergency in the state on the 28th. In Eastern Pennsylvania approximately 5000 homes, apartments and businesses were damaged. Many homes had their basement appliances and furniture ruined. The disaster area declaration made individual and public assistance possible. Numerous roads were damaged and closed. Even the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Montgomery County was closed. Flooding damaged and forced the closure of twenty-two Pennsylvania State Parks. Emergency responders told people to not walk into flooded waters because it might contain sewage and other contaminants. Many homes also had oil in their basements from ruptured tanks. There was also concern about persons with individual wells having their drinking water compromised. An explosion of mold and mosquitoes was expected in the wake of the flood. Crops closest to the ground were also impacted by the flood and included cabbage, cucumbers, strawberries, spinach and squash. In Carbon County about 130 homes, 15 businesses and 80 bridges, culverts and roads were damaged. Jim Thorpe, Nesquehoning, East Penn, Packer, Banks and Penn Forest Townships were hardest hit. Many roads were closed including U.S. Route 209 in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania State Route 534 in Kidder Township and Pennsylvania State Route 895 in East Penn Township. A large evacuation occurred at Hickory Run State Park as a 4-H campers were removed. Four shelters were opened in the county. The Lehigh Canal was damaged again. Beltzville State Park was damaged and closed through July 9th. Mauch Chunk State Park was also closed through the 30th. In Jim Thorpe, flooding occurred along the Silk Mill Creek which inundated the Jim Thorpe Market. Flooding along the Slaughterhouse Creek cut off the Germantown section of the borough. A mudslide also damaged a home. In Nesquehoning, flooding along the Nesquehoning Creek caused extensive damage to ninety feet of track owned by the C and S Railroad. The Panther Creek also flooded. In Lehighton, the Mahoning Creek flooded. In Franklin Township, the Long Run washed away several small bridges. People were rescued by boat. In Packer Township, the Quakake Creek flooded. Weatherly was divided in half because of flooding along the Black Creek.The Lehigh River in Lehighton was above its 10 foot flood stage from 919 a.m. EDT on the 27th through 252 p.m. EDT on the 28th. It crested at 13.51 feet at 545 a.m. EDT on the 27th. The Tobyhanna Creek along the Monroe/Carbon County border at Blakeslee was above its 10 foot flood stage from 737 a.m. EDT on the 27th through 1248 a.m. EDT on the 29th. It crested at 13.41 feet at 545 a.m. EDT on the 28th, the second highest crest on record and 0.11 feet higher than the crest in April of 2005. The Aquashicola Creek at Palmerton was above its 7 foot flood stage from 1205 p.m. EDT on the 28th through 358 p.m. EDT on the 28th. It crested at 7.23 feet at 230 p.m. EDT. Actual storm rainfall totals included 13.09 inches in Hauto, 11.63 inches in Lehighton, and 9.66 inches in Beltzville Lake.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5518443. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.