[2] Though the storm had not dissipated, the National Hurricane Center issued its final bulletin on Agnes at 1600UTC on June20. The storm completely destroyed 3,500 homes while damaging 64,000 houses in Pennsylvania; 13,000 of those homes were located in Wilkes-Barre. Because of extensive damage and severe death tolls, the name Agnes was retired following this storm, and will never again be used for another Atlantic hurricane. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for Six Day Flood Of PA Pennsylvania 1972 64 Illustrated Pages Collector's Edition at the best online prices at The memories, however, remain lucid in the minds of those who managed to shake the grip of Hurricane Agnes and survive. For best results viewing and printing PDF documents, it is recommended that you download The Day That Changed Our Lives., NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARKS 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF HURRICANE AGNES.. Houses, cars, boats, buildings, ships, and docks in the vicinity of Lake Erie were damaged. (PDF). Additional flooding also occurred in the western Carolinas. Commons Attribution 4.0 license. Early on June18, the storm intensified enough to be upgraded to Hurricane Agnes. The hurricane severely flooded the Susquehanna River and the Lackawanna River causing major damage to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton metropolitan area. "Regardless of the energy sources and circulation dynamics that caused the floods, however, this devastation could not have occurred without the extreme importations of moisture to the area by the depression that had been Hurricane Agnes.". After moving inland, Agnes rapidly weakened and was only a tropical depression when it entered Georgia. In Connecticut, winds were well below tropical storm force, although a wind gust of 46mph (74km/h) was reported in Hartford. [22] Although the damage toll estimated by the National Hurricane Center was at $8.243million,[23] the National Climatic Data Center noted that at least $39million in losses were reported. [35] In the state of Maryland, damage totaled to $110million and 19fatalities were reported. [41] At the Governor's Mansion, the first floor was submerged by flood waters. While it caused some minor damage during its travels through Georgia and the Carolinas, the hurricane seemed non-threatening to those in its path. A lock ( Geological Survey Professional Paper 924. An aerial view of the back of the homes in the 600 and 700 block on the east side of Market Street, Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, showing the extent of the flooding waters of the Rattling Creek, 22 June 1972. [2] Throughout the state, Agnes spawned at least 15tornadoes, while several tornadoes were operationally unconfirmed. The destruction of 177mobile homes was reported and 374others were significantly damaged. As the dam's normal flood control devices seemed unable to cope, engineers had placed charges to blow out a section of the dam to prevent a catastrophic failure. Floods reached as far inland as 3rd street in the heart of the city. The Gwynn Oak Amusement Park closed after suffering severe damage from flooding when Hurricane Agnes caused Gwynns Falls to overflow. The most significant effects, by far, occurred in Pennsylvania, mostly due to intense flooding. Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format WebIn June 1972, tropical storm Agnes caused severe flooding within a broad area extending from North Carolina to Southern New York. Consequently, at least 220,000people were left homeless. In the end, Hurricane Agnes pummeled Wilkes-Barre and the Wyoming Valley with 14 trillion gallons of water; submerging homes and destroying communities. Along the Pee Dee River, pastures, small grains, and soy bean crops near Cheraw suffered major damage; similar effects occurred along the Congaree River near Columbia, though damage was lesser.

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An official website of the United States government. After it intensified in power, Hurricane Agnes staked its claim as the first hurricane of the season when it hit the Florida Panhandle. However, it was evident that the heavy rain that would drench that region of Pennsylvania this time around would cause the river to swell substantially; the levels would quickly surpass the 35-foot limit of the barriers that protected near-by farms and town as the storm had bombarded the area with rain for close to a week. Copyright @2021 The Pennsylvania State University. Additional Links. [11], Agnes began its long life as an extratropical cyclone once cold air invaded its circulation late on June22, completing its extratropical transition on the next day. Protecting the most vulnerable populations, the elderly along with the sick, became of the utmost priority. Flood elevations along the Susquehanna River were the highest ever recorded. Though Agnes made landfall as a hurricane, no hurricane-force winds were reported. Quantity: 1 Add to Basket Paperback. [7] Upon becoming a hurricane, Agnes attained its maximum sustained winds of 85mph (140km/h), though it had not reached its minimum atmospheric pressure. As that water rushed downstream, the flooding caused a dike to be breached in Wilkes-Barre, resulting in the near destruction of the entire city. [31] At the height of the flooding, over 600 miles (970km) of highways were submerged, resulting in $14.8 million in damage to roads in the state. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Furthermore, 118mobile homes were destroyed and 91were significantly affected. Flood Inundation Mapper showing Flood of June 1972 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvanias uneven terrain, already strained reservoirs, and simultaneous weather happenings became integral ingredients in this recipe for disaster. The cyclone sped east-northeast, reaching Cape Breton Island on June27 before intensifying as it re-entered the North Atlantic. Petersburg. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Footage is included in the 1987 film Disasters-Anatomy of Destruction, hosted by George Kennedy. The [30], In Reading, the Schuylkill River reached a record flood of 31feet 6inches (9.60m). 502 Paterno Library National Weather Service As a result, the city lost millions of dollars from tourism, which led the officials of Panama City to file a $100million lawsuit against the National Weather Service. [2] Significant flooding occurred and it was described as the worst in at least 44years.

Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The drone of rescue helicopters cutting through the sky overhead broke the eerie hum of churning water that echoed through every neighborhood. Topping 85 mph and just grazing over the Caribbean, it started to make its way up the Eastern seaboard. Then we tried to answer their needs.. Thereafter, Agnes slowly curved northward and passed just west of Cuba on June17. Maximum discharges were as much as twice the discharge of a 50-year flood. [15] The gale warnings which were in effect for the Florida Keys and Fort Myers Beach to Clearwater was discontinued at 1000UTC on June19. Heading northward, the hurricane eventually made landfall near Panama City, Florida, late on June19. The highest tides reported were at Cedar Key, reaching 7 feet (2.1m) above normal sea levels. [23], In the states immediately to the north of Florida, impact was relatively minor. [33] In the Washington DC suburbs, the Alexandria reservoir Lake Barcroft emptied when its dam was undermined and breached. [22] In addition, nine fatalities were reported in Florida. Feeding off the warm waters of the Caribbean, the depression reached tropical storm strength (winds of at least 39 mph) early on June 16. Severe damage also occurred to sewer and water facilities, totaling to $34.5 million. In the Pinar del Ro Province, the cities of Guane and Mantua were isolated by swollen rivers. Heaps of discarded furniture lined the streets as some in the subsequent weeks as some were forced to gut their beloved homes. FromFlood Inundation Mapper (usgs.gov). Web1972 AGNES FLOOD WYOMING VALLEY PA DISASTER PHOTO BOOK WILKES BARRE KINGSTON. [39] Before the river crested, the water came within feet of overtopping the dam. Seven additional deaths were also blamed on Agnes in western Cuba. On June 22, Agnes made its second landfall just shy of hurricane strength on the western tip of Long Island, near New York City, with estimated winds of 70 mph. [27] Following Agnes, three news correspondents and the pilot died in a helicopter crash in Harrisburg on June26, 1972, while reporting on the flooding. A lock ( [2] Rainfall was generally light, peaking at 7.6 inches (190mm) in Middletown. [23], Although no reports of abnormally high winds or rainfall exists in Ohio,[2] the storm caused minor damage to about 302dwellings and severely affected at least three houses. In Elkridge, a family of six was forced from their home and they attempted to reach high ground in a small boat. It was not until June 28 that the newspaper was up and running for their evening edition, which was a special flood edition focusing on the clean-up and rescue work that was still going on. [53] Nixon also declared the states of Florida, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York as disaster areas. Referring to the situation throughout the state, Governor Milton Shapp said, "Without a doubt, this is the worst disaster in the history of Pennsylvania.". In 1974, the park's rides were auctioned off. The torrential downpour, combined with the 2-3 inches that battered the state in the week prior to June 23, resulted in truly fortuitous water levels in some parts. This precaution would have been a sufficient defense if water levels were to reach those seen in the ravaging flood of 1936, a disaster some of the elderly residents in the area still spoke of. Initially referred to as a "windstorm", one of those twisters destroyed 50mobile homes and a fishing camp in Okeechobee, as well as caused six fatalities. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the National guard helicopters were used to rescue workmen from the roof of the Daniels' plant. The Susquehanna River crested at new record level 42.66 feet higher than the historic flooding in 1972 from Hurricane Agnes. In the Midstate, flooding occurred on the about viewing, downloading, and printing report files can be found at the common download problems FAQ. U.S. In central Pennsylvania, large areas in Lock Haven, Mill Hall, Wilkes-Barre, Kingston, Pittston, Harrisburg, and in many smaller communities were inundated to depths of several feet. Although the storm bypassed the tip of Cuba, heavy rainfall occurred, killing seven people.
It capsized and all six held onto the boat for several hours until it reached more shallow water. In Canada, a mobile home was toppled, killing two people. Following the storm, President of the United States Richard Nixon declared 14counties in Florida as a disaster area, including: Brevard County, Dixie County, Franklin County, Hendry County, Hillsborough County, Lee County, Levy County, Manatee County, Monroe County, Okeechobee County, Pasco County, Pinellas County, Sarasota County, and Wakulla County. Official websites use .gov Stretches of the swollen Susquehanna River began receding Friday after days of rainfall from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, forcing evauation order for nearly 100,000 people. In addition, a bridge from Coquina Key to St. Petersburg was also underwater due to high tides. Maximum discharges were about 40 percent greater than those Eyewitness News brings you the sights and sounds of the Agnes flood of 72, digitally remastered. rights reserved. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TROPICAL DEPRESSION, TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE? Official websites use .gov United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS On June 24, Pittsburghs water levels crested at 38.5 feet. 523, Explore recent publications by USGS authors, Browse all of Pubs Warehouse by publication type and year, Descriptions of US Geological Survey Report Series, Map showing flood of June 1972 resulting from tropical storm Agnes, Susquehanna River at Kingston, Pennsylvania(1972), Map showing flood of June 1972 resulting from tropical storm Agnes, Susquehanna River at Wilkes-Barre and Plymouth, Pennsylvania(1972), Flood of June 1972 in Wilkes-Barre Area, Pennsylvania. J. F. Bailey, J. L. Patterson, and J. L. H. Paulhus. Approximately 150bridges either became impassable or were swept away. Just a few days prior to June 23, 1972, meteorologists spoke of the potential for light rain, a by-product of a distant tropical storm, to wash over north-central Pennsylvania. Fires, unreachable by firefighters, crackled atop buildings. [20] The highest amount of precipitation recorded was 4.59 inches (117mm) in Unicoi. Satellite imagery shows Agnes churning through the Gulf of Mexico on June 18, 1972. The Fort Pitt Museum was deluged with four feet of water. [45] Street flooding was reported and basements in low-lying area were flooded, though damage in Delaware was minimal. Goldsworthy's own home was among those inundated. Agnes had a devastating impact on the already-bankrupt railroads in the northeastern United States, as lines were washed out and shipments were delayed: The resulting cost of repairing the damage was one of the factors leading to the creation of the federally financed Conrail. "It is difficult, if not impossible, to determine how much of the rainfall might have occurred separately from the baroclinic system had Agnes not been located to the east," the NHC wrote in its tropical cyclone report for Hurricane Agnes. browser may not display or print as intended. Seller Rating: Contact seller First Edition Used - Softcover Condition: Very Good US$ 12.00 Convert currency US$ 7.65 Shipping Within U.S.A. Agnes was, at the time, the costliest hurricane in the history of the United States, though it has since been surpassed by numerous other storms. [26], In some areas of South Carolina, the storm dropped as much as 9.5 inches (240mm) of rain in less than 36hours. Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format Secure .gov websites use HTTPS [41] Some buildings were under 13ft (4.0m) of water in Harrisburg. A lock () or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The Point was submerged to the Portal Bridge and beyond. The severe floods near Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania, were the catalyst for the construction of the Tioga Reservoir in 1973. The flooding was first reported in the early morning hours of June22 and water was reported as high as 40 feet (12m) above normal. [27] Overall, losses in Ohio totaled to at least $4million. Damage in the state was minor, though low-lying streets in the Gulf Shores were flooded. Just before 11:00 a.m. on June 22, 1972, flood waters grew higher than the levee. Sirens sounded 14 minutes later, calling all to move to higher ground. The National Weather Service says Hurricane Agnes was one of the largest June hurricanes on record. That's higher than the record of 40.9 feet set in 1972 with Hurricane Agnes' historic flooding. Anywhere from six to 12 inches of rain fell, following days of rainfall already. The track of Hurricane Agnes in June 1972. The newly formed tropical storm turned northward on June 17 and continued to intensify. Hydrologic Atlas

Light to moderate rainfall was reported in Florida, though no significant flooding occurred. Agnes mood was mercurial and unpredictable; some areas where simply doused with rain while others, like Philadelphia, were merely misted in comparison, receiving just a few inches.

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