Flood — Northampton, Pennsylvania

2006-06-27 to 2006-06-30 · near Walnutport, Northampton, 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 fourth highest crest on record for the Delaware River along Northampton County. The worst reported damage was in Easton and Portland. The crest was slightly lower than the April 2005 flood. President George W. Bush declared Northampton County a disaster area. 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. Event totals in Northampton County averaged five to nine inches, but storm totals exceeded ten inches 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. In Northampton County about 400 homes and businesses were affected by the flooding. Nearly half of them suffered major damage. Eleven homes were destroyed: three in Upper Mount Bethel Township, three in Lower Mount Bethel Township, four in Williams Township and one in West Easton Borough. The worst reported damage was in Easton, Portland, Upper and Lower Mount Bethel Townships. Homes and businesses were evacuated in those municipalities and also in West Easton, Forks and Williams Townships. More than twenty bridges and roads were closed due to flooding in the county. In Easton, flooding along the Bushkill Creek reached near the second floor of some homes. Once again flooding along the Delaware River took a heavy toll on downtown businesses in and around Larry Holmes Drive and Third Street. It took up to one month for some businesses to reopen. The flooding forced water restrictions. Schools were closed for the rest of the week. The Delaware Canal State Park was damaged further. Riverside Park as also heavily damaged. The borough Heritage Day was postponed. Borough pools were not reopened until July 11th. In Portland Borough, about two dozen downtown businesses were damaged, seven suffered major damage. Damage in Upper Mount Bethel Township was described as worse than what occurred in April of 2005. The worst damage was reported along Riverton Road and Sandy Shore Drive. About five people were rescued from flood waters. In Lower Mount Bethel Township, the Jacoby Creek also flooded. In Forks Township, about 300 people were evacuated. Bushkill Park was damaged and flooded again after the water from the Bushkill Creek breached a retaining wall. In Williams Township, families were evacuated and homes were damaged along Canal Road. In Allen Township, the Hokendauqua Creek also flooded. In Nazareth, both the Bushkill and Little Bushkill Creeks flooded recreational areas. Crops were damaged by the flood waters, especially, the wheat crop. The heavy rain caused the wheat kernels to sprout prematurely, reduced the grain quality and cut its value in half. The Delaware River at Belvidere (Warren County), was above its 22 foot flood stage from 1145 a.m. EDT on the 28th through 303 a.m. EDT on the 30th. It crested at 27.16 feet at 1130 a.m. EDT on the 29th, the fourth highest crest on record. Farther downstream at Easton, the Delaware River was above its 22 foot flood stage from 830 p.m. EDT on the 27th through 703 p.m. EDT on the 30th. It crested at 37.09 feet at 1215 p.m. EDT on the 29th, the fourth highest crest on record. The Lehigh River also flooded inland, but flooding was not as severe. The Lehigh River at Walnutport was above its above its 8 foot flood stage from 645 a.m. EDT on the 27th through 300 a.m. EDT on the 29th. It crested at 12.49 feet 715 a.m. EDT on the 28th. Farther downstream in Bethlehem, the Lehigh River was above its 16 foot flood stage from 458 a.m. EDT through 418 p.m. EDT on the 28th. It crested at 17.74 feet at 11 a.m. EDT. Farther downstream in Glendon, the Lehigh River was above its 19 foot flood stage from 434 p.m. EDT on the 27th through 2 a.m. EDT on the 29th. It crested at 19.74 feet at 730 a.m. EDT on the 28th. Actual storm rainfall totals included: 9.03 inches in Walnutport and 6.42 inches in Forks Township. It was the second wettest June on record at the Lehigh Valley International Airport as 9.13 inches of rain fell.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5518452. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.