Delaware may reach highest level since '55 Eric Mark Pocono Record Writer June 29, 2006 The second act of the Flood of 2006 takes place today, especially for those who live or work near the Delaware River. As of Wednesday night, the Delaware at Tocks Island was expected to crest this morning at about 31.5 feet, which would be the highest the river has reached since the Flood of 1955. It would be about 13 feet above flood stage and a few inches higher than the level reached in the flood of April 2005. "We want people to be very careful today," Monroe County commissioner Donna Asure said Wednesday night. "It will still be dangerous in places." Harry Robidoux, director of the Monroe County Office of Emergency Services, cautioned that flooding near the river will be worse today than it was earlier this week, despite dry, sunny weather most of the day Wednesday once a drenching low front finally moved out of the region. It's the same pattern seen in the last two major floods to hit the region, in September 2004 and April 2005. The Delaware overflows its banks the day after local streams and creeks flood. The river flooding could affect the ride to work for thousands of commuters who travel from the Poconos to New York and New Jersey. New Jersey state police informed Monroe County officials they might close portions of Interstate 80 in western New Jersey today if the road floods, Asure said. Also, Route 46, the main alternative to I-80 through much of New Jersey, is closer to the Delaware than is the interstate and will likely be closed, too, as it was much of Wednesday. Asure and fellow commissioners Robert Nothstein and Suzanne McCool were part of a team that staffed the emergency operations center, or EOC, at the Monroe County Public Safety Center in Snydersville Wednesday. The commissioners activated the EOC at 7 a.m. Wednesday, the same time they declared a county-wide state of emergency until further notice. Each of Monroe's 20 municipalities declared an emergency too, Asure said. The EOC was a busy place all day Wednesday, according to those who manned the phones starting at 7 a.m. Besides Robidoux and the county commissioners, the EOC was staffed by police officers, doctors, fire police, search and rescue teams and a representative of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. Search and rescue teams responded to at least eight reported water rescues Wednesday, said Bob Lemoi, of Northeast Search and Rescue. The Pennsylvania Army National Guard has been activated to help with the flood effort. Robidoux urged property owners with damage that might qualify for disaster relief to call the EOC at 570 402-7310. Pike County commissioners also declared a state of emergency Wednesday. The borough of Matamoras, on the Delaware, was evacuated. Scattered power outages were reported throughout the region, including Tannersville and Paradise Township. The Monroe County EOC will be operational starting at 6 a.m. today. CLICK HERE FOR FLOOD PHOTOS http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=photos Includes places such as Bangor, East Stroudsburg, Portland, Also some amazing views of raging Brodhead Creek. - --------------------------------- Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and 30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less. The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List Sponsored by the ELH&TS http://www.elhts.org ------------------------------
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