County takes a hit

BY STACI WILSON

Like flooding in June 2006, first reports of flash flooding and damages brought by Tropical Storm Lee inSusquehannaCountywere reported in the Little Meadows area.

As streams overflowed from their banks, roads and homes in the northwest corner of the county took an early hit.

Little Meadows residents were advised to evacuate Wednesday afternoon. An emergency shelter established early in the day was relocated to a church in nearby Friendsville.

From there, the storm front continued dumping heavy rains across the region raising the river flood forecast to alarming levels.

According to data from the National Weather Service,Binghamton,N.Y., in a 48-hour period, Sept. 6-8, up to 11 inches of rain fell in some areas of the county. The Montrose area saw 7.97 inches of rain fall in a 24-hour period, Sept. 7-8.

TheSusquehanna RiverinConklin,N.Y., crested Sept. 8 at just under 24 feet, one foot shy of the 25-foot record flooding of June 2006. Flood stage in Conklin is 12 feet.

As in 2006, businesses and homes along the river in the Hallstead-Great Bend area sustained heavy damage.

Lanesboro and Franklin Twp. areas were also hard hit.

Evacuation centers for affected residents were established atBlue Ridgeand Susquehanna Community schools. As waters receded, those needing shelter were moved to the Great Bend Fire Hall.

Currently, about 39 evacuees have been relocated – once again – this time to the Montrose Bible Conference in Montrose.

Several graves in the Lawton-Snyder Cemetery were undermined by water from the storm, said Coroner Tony Conarton.

Three vaults containing caskets were unearthed but remained uncompromised, Conarton reported. The three were taken to Binghamton Burual Vault and secured.

A fourth vault and casket were damaged in the slide. Conarton said the body was taken to Bartron-Myer Funeral Home.

Conarton was not able to get to the scene but contacted Greg Myer, of Bartron-Myer, who handled the incident.

The coroner also said Rockford Construction assisted with retrieving the vaults by sending a boom truck and work crew to the scene.

Emergency Management Director Charlene Moser said some natural gas companies also stepped up to the plate to assist during the disaster.

Moser said companies working in the area and their employees helped transport supplies; provided manpower and equipment to unload emergency supplies; provided a storage unit; cleaning supplies; and are aiding in cleanup efforts.

On Tuesday afternoon, Scott Aylesworth,EMAOperations and Training Officer, said the county has now moved into recovery phase of the disaster.

Aylesworth said, “This morning we received a

Presidential Declaration for individual assistance.”

That declaration, Aylesworth said allows for homeowners to apply for assistance from the federal government.

Damage assessments by the municipalities are also underway, Aylesworth said, but no preliminary estimates were available at press time.

As of Tuesday, only two homes had been reported as destroyed; however, Aylesworth noted, assessments were not yet in from some of the hardest hit townships and boroughs in the county.

From an operations standpoint, Aylesworth said all went very well during the disaster; areas that normally flood were evacuated early.

“People listened and evacuated,” he said. “That made everybody’s work easier.”

“There were no casualties or major injuries – in my mind that makes it a success,” Aylesworth said. “We’re now working for recovery.”