Flood of Sept. 8, 2011

This would be the second highest river crest since the 1972 Agnes Flood.

• A mandatory evacuation by 4:00 pm of low lying and
   flood plain areas has been ordered for the Wyoming Valley.
•  Luzerne County Community College is open as an evacuation center
•  County Commissioner Maryann Petrilla announces that the National Guard has mobilized in Nanticoke
• At 4:00 pm WBRE closes the Wilkes-Barre Studio, power is being cut in downtown
  Wilkes-Barre.
• Governor Corbett declares a Level 1 emergency.
• At 4:00pm this day the Susquehanna is expected to crest at 40.8 feet by 2:00am at Wilkes-Barre. The levee system protects Wilkes-Barre to 41 feet.

Here, my video shows people gathering near Weiss's  both to shop and observe the highest water in Nanticoke preceding back before Agnes in '72.  This video shows water levels rising up to as far as the State Liquor Store, a helicopter assessing the damage (possibly Gov. Tom Corbett), various cleanup efforts and the emotional climate of the afternoon of Sept 9 2011.

 Faulty monitoring equipment erroneously reports river levels lower than they actually were.

Agnes 1972

I had been away from NE Pennsylvania from 1953 until 1974.  So, I didn't experience in person the ravage of Agnes in in 1972.  Living out in Milwaukee, I can remember National news casts and videos showing the destruction of the flood. Both my parents, natives of Nanticoke, kept up on the news of events in their old home town the best that they could through news papers and television and long distance phone calls to relatives back in Nanticoke.  At that time, being of  modest means, we only had broadcast television.  Even then, cable news networks such as CNN and MSNBC were either non existent or in early development.  News was what it was.

Remembering Eloise

 My family and I were fortunate enough not to be affected by flood waters as we lived outside of the flood plain. These photos dated May 26, 1975 were taken with my Kowa  6x6 MM Single Lens Reflex Camera and Tri-X 400 ASA Black & White film and processed in my make shift basement darkroom next to the furnace.

This photo was taken in Nanticoke down on Lower Broadway when old abandon homes still stood.

This photo shows the railroad tracks just before the Nanticoke bridge. You can see the railroad crossing guards in down position activated by the flood waters over the tracks.

This photo dated: May 26, 1975 as well shows the San Souci Parkway looking toward Nanticoke from the Hanover Mall.  Harold's Market is flooded.

The Sunoco filling station, just recently reopened after a good many years on the Parkway again shows the National Guard out to help with looting patrols and cleanup efforts.

The Rosedale, a popular hangout back then, takes on significant flooding.  the Exon station adjacent on the corner of the Dundee Road and the San Souci Parkway takes on water as well.

I would be very interested in your input.  If you have additional information or corrections to the information provided here please email me at

 nanticokehistory@verizon.net.

  I'll try my best to respect the copyrights of others and a lot of times just rely on memory for my facts.

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