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Flood
History The Susquehanna
River Basin is one of the most flood-prone areas in the nation Since the early 1800s, the main stem of the Susquehanna has flooded every 20 years, on average. Even the Native Americans who once lived in the area told of frequent floods. The susquehanna basin also is vulnerable to frequent, localized flash floods every year. These flash floods, usually afffecting smaller tributaries, can occur with little advance warning. Tropical storm Agnes in 1972 caused the worst recorded floding in the Basin in June 1972. The flooding caused 72 deaths and $2.8 billion in damage. Flood levels exceeded the record levels of the 1936 flood by as much as six feet in some places. It was the nation's most costly natural disaster until Hurricane Andrew hit in 1992. In all, 1,160 of the 1,400 communities in the river basin have some residents who live in flood-prone areas. For these residents, flood warning and flood management and protection are of utmost concern.
Flood
Photo Gallery "The Susquehanna is one of the most flood-prone rivers of any in the entire nation. And the memories of devastation from major flood events like Agnes in 72, and the Great Flood of 1936--and then more recently, the Ice Flood in 1996, in January are etched into the memories of residents form New York communities, like Corning, and Elmira, and Binghamton. As well as Pennsylvania communities like Scranton and Wilkes Barre, Sunbury and Harrisburg." - Paul Swartz, Executive Director, Susquehanna River Basin Commission
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