A Gladstone
Block #, Sept. 2011
Current Events
Recently a lot of rain has fallen nearby causing rivers and creeks to overflow their banks and many people to evacuate their homes. This rain has been the result of the Tropical Storm Lee. An article explaining this was in the Washing ton Post. It is called “Many PA. Flood Evacuees Return to their
Homes.” The article was published on Sunday, September 11, 2011, by Patrick Walters and Peter
Jackson.
The effects of this storm have been felt locally especially I Maryland, New York, and
Pennsylvania. The Susquehanna River has overflowed its banks. In NE Maryland, the water rose to 32.4 feet. In New York, the flood waters were 25.7 feet high. Finally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the flood waters were a record 42.7 feet high. President Obama declared a state of emergency in New York and
Pennsylvania. This will allow the flood victims to receive federal aid (money) to help in their recovery and clean up efforts.
Several problems have resulted in this disaster. Many people are still unable to return to their homes. When they do return, they will have to begin the clean up process. Many homes remain without power, and there is a concern about contamination since the sewer systems are not working properly. Another problem includes looting or stealing by dishonest people. One person has already been arrested for this crime. Fifteen deaths have also resulted from this storm. Luckily the levees I
Pennsylvania held or more disastrous results could have occurred.
I can connect to this article in that I was worried about my dad’s camper RV lot in Gulf Shores,
Alabama, where the storm came ashore. He had a local neighbor check his lot for him since he is now living up here in West Virginia for the summer. Luckily, there were no major issues – only a few limbs to be carried away.
This is an example of history repeating itself as stated in the same afore mentioned article.
Hurricane Agnes hit this area in 1972 flooding many local areas including this one. I can remember how high the creek in our own backyard in Lovettsville was and the Potomac River under the Brunswick
Bridge. My dad took my family to see the flood waters which were very scary. Lots of debris was churning and rolling down the overflowing banks. My dad took a picture of me, my brother and sister standing on the bridge. It felt like it was moving because the rushing of the water was so powerful. I hope that the recent flood victims are able to get back to a normal life as soon as possible!