LEWISBURG — Flooding in Lewisburg severely damaged at least three homes where Bucknell University students live on South Sixth Street, a university spokeswoman said.
Julia Ferrante said about 10 students were displaced from the street, much of which was under water from the campus to Market Street on Thursday afternoon. She said the homes were condemned.
Areas swamped
Meanwhile, other low-lying areas of the borough and surrounding area were swamped as residents and business owners removed items from their buildings. Many spent time walking the nonflooded streets, taking photographs and recalling 1972, when Hurricane Agnes caused the worst flooding borough residents have ever seen.
Amanda Smith, who lives on North Second Street, was in the parking lot at Hufnagle Park, which was created as a result of Agnes wiping out many of the homes that once stood where the park is. The park is named for Lewisburg Police Chief Gordon Hufnagle, who died trying to rescue a family from floodwaters.
Firefighters, police officers and borough public works crews were out evacuating people as early as 4 a.m., said Lewisburg Mayor Judy Wagner.
She and other borough officials were stationed at the borough's emergency operations center in the municipal building on South Fifth Street, where officials were expecting the West Branch of the Susquehanna River to crest at about 27 feet Thursday night.
Evacuation areas included sections of South Sixth, St. George, Mill, South Third and nearby streets. Also, water was topping Route 15 at St. Mary Street. Floods typically wash out Daniel Greene Field, off St. Mary, as well as the Lewisburg Area Recreation Authority Park at North 15th and St. Mary streets.
"We've had great communication with the county, with Bucknell University, and William Cameron (Engine Company) has been amazing," Mayor Wagner said.
Many of those evacuated along South Sixth Street were Bucknell students, she said.
Some, like Kim Chekan and Abby Thompson, were staying with friends who live on higher ground.
They were evacuated at 6 p.m. Wednesday as a precaution. They left for a friend's on South Seventh Street after moving mattresses to the second floor.
They wandered down St. Louis toward South Sixth, seeing their backyard was still under water.
"We wanted to see what it was like today," said Chekan, who is from North Carolina. "It's frustrating."
Said Thompson, "We're hoping for the best, at this point."
Others were being housed at the Elaine Langone Student Center and Kenneth Langone Fieldhouse, where cots, food and water were available, Ferrante said.
As a precaution, the college is evacuating several dorms in low-lying areas, especially the basements where electrical equipment could cause a problem.
In all, more than 1,100 students — about a third of the student body — were to be affected by the flooding. Classes were cancelled and only essential personnel were on duty, a rarity, Ferrante said.
"We're trying to make things as normal as possible," she said. "We're providing free pizza and ice cream and we'll be showing a movie."
In the student center, George Hickman, a junior from Philadelphia, was waiting with several of her friends after being told to leave their house on South Sixth.
"We weren't ready to get out," she said of the 5:30 a.m. evacuation. "We had 10 minutes to grab what we needed."
The water had not yet reached the structure, but they were moved as a precaution, she said.
"It's kind of an adventure," she said. "We're getting some homework done."
Meanwhile, across town there were sounds of generators and pumps as folks did what they could to stem the rising tide.
The back door of Zelda's Cafe was propped open, and a chain of young men carried out bags of food and canned goods, coffee makers and blenders, tables and chairs.
As the water from swollen Bull Run edged ever higher up St. Louis Street, the crew, led by Zelda's owner Scott Stieler, clad in hip waders, continued to bring out everything from the popular coffee shop.
"It's over a two feet deep in there," said John Gremer, Stieler's brothe- in-law, who was among those assisting in the move. "It's raised about a foot since we got here at 6 a.m."
News
Water ruins 3 houses in Lewisburg
- News
-
-
Long-time Beavertown mayor ousted by 14 votes
Political newcomer Lee Hollenbach Jr. defeated incumbent Mayor Cloyd “Bill” Wagner in Tuesday night’s Republican primary.
-
Dunkleberger wins Northumberland Co. prothonotary race
Justin Dunkelberger defeated Jamie Saleski 2,744-2,124 in a hotly contested Republican primary election Tuesday night for Northumberland County prothonotary and clerk of courts.
-
Persing elected to another term as Sunbury Mayor
Incumbent Mayor David Persing, who fought off repeated allegations in recent months by challenger Julie Brosius, won the Republican nomination by a landslide in Tuesday’s primary election.
-
Crews dig through night after deadly Oklahoma tornado
MOORE, Okla. — Spotlights bore down on massive piles of shredded cinder block, insulation and metal as crews worked through the night lifting bricks and parts of collapsed walls where a monstrous tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburbs, demolishing an elementary school and reducing homes to piles of splintered wood.
-
10 Things to Know for Today
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
-
10 Things to Know for Today
Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:
-
Fire destroys $60G cottage in Union County
WINFIELD — A fire swept through a Winfield home while its occupants were at work Tuesday.
-
2013 Primary Election - Top Races
Unofficial primary election returns
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY
Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts
Republican
Justin R. Dunkelberger 2,744
Jamie Saleski 2,124100 percent reporting
Magisterial District Judge
08-3-02, Milton
Republican
Larry Redington 496
Mike Diehl 684
Lisa A. Riley 328
Seth M. Cotner 132
Democrat
Larry Regington 182
Seth M. Cotner 90
Mike Diehl 221Lisa A. Riley 218
100 percent reporting
Sunbury Mayor
Republican
Julie Brosius 200
David L. Persing 378100 percent reporting
Sunbury Treasurer
Republican
Stanley E. Geiswhite 176
Kevin E. Troup 388
100 percent reportingUNION COUNTY
County Coroner
Republican
Tod M. Steese 542
Dominick T. Adamo 1,04963 percent reporting
Gregg Township
Alcohol Sales: Do you favor the granting of liquor license for the sale of liquor in the Township of Gregg?
Yes 82
No 72
100 percent reporting -
Midd-West adopts preliminary budget
Faced with a firm deadline in which to adopt a preliminary budget for 2013-14, the Midd-West school board reversed its vote late Monday night and approved the $32.85 million plan.
-
Police file attempted homicide charge in baseball bat attack
FREEBURG - A Freeburg man, who allegedly attacked two people less than a week after he was released on bail, is now facing attempted homicide charges, according to police.
-
Driver, boy, 6, hurt in Route 15 crash
LEWISBURG — A 61-year-old Milton woman and a 6-year-old boy were hurt Monday night when their vehicle hit a guide rail and a concrete barrier before overturning on Route 15, state police at Milton said.
-
Sunbury hospital's operating margin among worst in state
SUNBURY — Sunbury Community Hospital’s 2012 operating margin was among the worst in the state, according to a new report examining the fiscal health of the state’s hospitals.
-
Sunbury woman gets 9-23 months in cocaine sales
SUNBURY — A Sunbury woman will report to the Northumberland County Prison on June 3 for a nine- to 23-month stint for her part in a cocaine ring that police said saw her earning $900 a week from sales.
-
Jodi Arias trial wraps for day after series of motions
PHOENIX — Defense attorneys for Jodi Arias asked the judge to remove them from the case and declare a mistrial Monday, arguing the frenzy surrounding the case has created a modern-day witch hunt.
-
U.S. Sen. Casey wants federal probe of fiery tanker crash
HARRISBURG — U.S. Senator Bob Casey wants federal regulators to investigate a fiery tanker crash that caused serious damage at the interchange of Interstate 81 and U.S. Routes 22/322 near Harrisburg.
-
Federal judge weighs fate of governor's lawsuit against NCAA
HARRISBURG — A federal judge in Pennsylvania says she’ll decide in the next couple weeks whether to dismiss Gov. Tom Corbett’s antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA over penalties against Penn State.
-
Today's Top Videos
-
Police Log
A daily roundup of police news from around the region.
- More News Headlines
-
Long-time Beavertown mayor ousted by 14 votes
