Flood — Monroe, Pennsylvania

2006-06-27 to 2006-06-30 · near Countywide, Monroe, Pennsylvania

Wider weather episode

Several days of heavy rain throughout the Delaware and Lehigh River Basins culminated with major flooding along the Delaware River from the 28th through the 30th. It was the second highest crest on record for the Delaware River along Monroe County only surpassed by the flooding in August of 1955. The worst reported damage was along the Brodhead Creek and along the Delaware River. The crest along the Delaware River was slightly lower than the April 2005 flood. President George W. Bush declared Monroe County a disaster area. Two men drowned. Sporadic periods of heavy rain started on the 23rd, but the most widespread and heaviest rain fell from the night 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 Monroe County averaged eight to twelve inches, with similar storm totals in parts of the Upper Delaware Basin in New York State.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. Between Bucks and Monroe Counties ten Delaware River bridges operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission were closed. Tolls were suspended on bridges that remained open to ease congestion on the 28th through the 30th. Four bridges were still closed the night of the 29th, three bridges were closed on July 1st, they all were re-opened on the 2nd. 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. Flooding claimed the lives of two men and damaged about 400 homes and businesses in the county. Nine were completely destroyed. A 19-year-old male apparently fell into Winona Falls Creek. His body was recovered on the night of the 30th near Winona Falls in Middle Smithfield Township. A 66-year-old male drowned in the Delaware River after taking pictures of the flood. His body was found in the Delaware Water Gap Natural Recreation Area. Two teenagers were rescued from the flooded Paradise Creek. More than a dozen major roads were closed in the county. Five were still closed through the Independence Day Weekend. Four bridges were washed out: one on Pennsylvania State Route 447 in Hamilton Township, another on Browns Hill Road in Paradise Township and two on Business Route 209 in both Hamilton and Stroud Townships. Four homes were destroyed in East Stroudsburg in the Buttonwood Court Development. One home fell into the Brodhead Creek. The development is sandwiched between the Brodhead and Samba Creeks. The rest of the development was evacuated. A shelter was opened in the borough. The flooding in the area also damaged a part of Pennsylvania Power and Light's power distribution network. Flooding also occurred along the Tobyhanna Creek in Tobyhanna Township. Along the Delaware River, only roofs of homes were visible in Delaware Water Gap. The Shawnee Inn was evacuated again. Beaches at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area were not re-opened until the 14th of July. Minisink Park in Smithfield Township remained closed for an extended period of time.The Delaware River at Tocks Island (Warren County) was above its 21 foot flood stage from 906 a.m. EDT on the 28th through 1043 a.m. EDT on the 30th. It crested at 33.87 feet at 915 a.m. EDT on the 29th, about half a foot higher than the crest in April of 2005 and the second highest crest on record overall. The Brodhead Creek at Analomink was above its 8 foot flood stage from 430 a.m. EDT through 238 p.m. EDT on the 28th. It crested at 11.44 feet at 715 a.m. EDT. Farther downstream at Mininsink Hills, the Brodhead Creek was above its 10 foot flood stage from 407 a.m. EDT on the 28th through 706 a.m. EDT on the 30th. It crested at 21.34 feet at 845 a.m. EDT on the 29th. The crest was the second highest on record and 0.34 feet higher than the crest in April of 2005. The Lehigh River at Stoddartsville was above its 7 foot flood stage 905 a.m. EDT on the 27th through 942 p.m. EDT on the 28th. It crested at 11.77 feet at 215 p.m. EDT on the 27th. The Pohopoco Creek at Kresgeville was above its 8.5 foot flood stage from 336 a.m. EDT through 1211 p.m. EDT on the 28th. It crested at 8.77 feet at 6 a.m. EDT. The Tunkhannock Creek at Long Pond was above its 5 foot flood stage from 1041 p.m. EDT on the 27th through 330 a.m. EDT on the 29th. It crested at 5.44 feet at 430 a.m. EDT on the 29th. The Bush Kill at Shoemakers was above its 6 foot flood from 712 a.m. EDT on the 28th through 120 a.m. EDT on the 29th. It crested at 7.31 feet at 1 p.m. EDT on the 28th. 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. Actual storm rainfall totals included: 12.86 inches in Blakeslee, 12.35 inches in Pocono Summit and 12.22 inches in Camelback.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5518444. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.