Pennsylvania maps 1956 pottstown, pa usgs historical topographic map cartography wall art 35in x 44in. Browse through a photo gallery following agnes destructive path in 1972. Hyperlocal news, alerts, discussions and events for pottstown, pa. In central pennsylvania, the susquehanna river crested at 32. Daily local archives following hurricane agnes june 1972. Hurricane agnes was the costliest hurricane to hit the united states at the time, causing an. Sediment increase growing concern at conowingo dam duration. It was 47 years ago that hurricane agnes came a knockin. Typically the result of heavy precipitation, snowmelts, and ice jams, major flood events can last several days or even weeks. It developed in the gulf of mexico to become a weak category 1 hurricane by the time of landfall on the florida panhandle.
Flooding in downtown pottstown from hurricane agnes. Tropical storm agnes dumped 19 inches of rain june 1924, 1972, from florida to new york. Aug 29, 2016 however, a hurricane does not need to be a category 4 or 5 to cause serious damage. The floods were the worst ever seen in the area, topping the previous record set back in the 19th century. The flooding started on june 23, 1972 when the water broke through the susquehanna river levee system. The designation of the female gender in this case, however, was applied to a hurricane. Hurricane agnes caused extreme damage and loss to berks county when it hit june, 22nd 1972. Pottstown patch 8 mins health officials say that protesters driving is fine, but warned of the risks of a gathering that flouts social distancing guidelines. It hasnt been like this in a long time, bill sheetz said. Inundation of the heartland tropical storm agnes and the. Rita was so expert at her job, that when she retired in 1986, she was replaced by three persons a township manager, a secretary and a treasurer. View of occoquan bridge damage an overhead view of the jefferson davis highwayrt.
The graphics below show the storm total rainfall for both agnes and the extratropical cyclone to its west, using data provided by the national climatic data center in asheville, north carolina. Sundays are the only day that an appointment is required. Several vehicles were stuck in floodwaters along the lowlying area of high street. A view of downtown pottstown after hurricane agnes flooded the schuylkill and its tributaries in photo courtesy judy palladino. Atlantic hurricane 40th anniversary caribbean new york skyline united states june 22 barre pictures travel. Jun 22, 2017 in reading, the schuylkill river reached a record flood of 31. Nov 09, 2012 home video archives from my fathers 8mm camera of the aftermath of hurricane agnes recorded while visiting family in pottstown pa. Like hurricane harvey, the damage came from rain, not wind. Ns chemung river bridge map street view through truss bridge over chemung river on lehigh valley railroad at athens open to traffic built 1916 by the phoenix bridge co damaged by flooding from hurricane agnes in 1972 and repaired. Pottstown guardian angels, 23 n hanover st, pottstown, pa 2020.
In 1972, tropical storm agnes dropped 8 12 inches of rain. Remembering pottstown during hurricane agnes june 22, 1972. The most recent pottstown, pa hurricane was sandy in 2012. The impact of hurricane agnes on pottstown and the surrounding region 40 years ago, june 2226, 1972, was devastating. A look at the flooding in phoenixville after hurricane. Joaquin becomes hurricane, pennsylvania in its expected path joaquin could pack winds as high as 90 to 100 mph as it approaches the east coast. Both harvey and agnes hovered inland for several days and generated massive amounts of rainfall. Daily local archives following hurricane agnes, june 1972. Jun 19, 2017 washington fortyfive years ago on june 19, 1972, hurricane agnes made landfall in florida.
Pottstown, pa is in a very low risk hurricane zone. Hurricane agnes was, at the time, the costliest hurricane to hit the united states in recorded history. Hurrican agnes and other floods in pottstown, pa by. I lived in pottstown only 100 yards from the schuylkill. When agnes hit, continue reading hurricane agnes 45 years. Hurricane agnes 45 years ago today berks nostalgia. Hurricane agnes and the rain she brought with her to pennsylvania beginning june 22, 40 years ago, was unlike anything residents had ever experienced. It weakened to a tropical storm by the time it hit near new york city on june 23rd, 1972. Every town along the schuylkill was affected pottstown, phoenixville, spring city.
Agnes and the great flood of 1972 the sunday bulletin newspaper section supplement philadelphia, pa pottstown, pa west chester, pa hurricane agnes condition. But the recent frankenstorm sandy has spurred a lot of discussion of hurricane agnes which dropped somewhere around 22 inches of rain in some areas of the finger lakes region. Located on the outskirts of woodbridge on the border of prince william and fairfax counties. Observerrygiel publishing, 1973 hurricane agnes, 1972 378 pages.
A view of downtown pottstown after hurricane agnes flooded the. The flood was caused by the rains of hurricane tropical storm agnes. The event is one of the factors that led to the formation of the conrail rail system, a federally funded railway that replaced the damaged and bankrupt lines that existed before the hurricane. Agnes made landfall near panama city, florida as a minimal hurricane category 1. Oct 06, 2010 on june 22, 1972, hurricane agnus flooded reading and much of pennsylvania. Agnes left quite a legacy among those who suffered her wrath. The storm caused some of the worst flooding ever in the midatlantic and is responsible for 122 deaths. I remember all of the oil being washed into pottstown from the open pits in.
In 1972, hurricane agnes was a weak category 1 when it came ashore, but its heavy rains caused flooding that resulted in billions in damage and killed 129 people. During tropical storm agnes, every dispatcher had to spend time in the bathroom, not as a result of illness, but rather to answer the extra. The system weakened as it crossed georgia but regained strength as it moved across eastern north carolina then into the atlantic ocean on june 21. Agnes, which previously had earned hurricane status, dumped an estimated 28 trillion, 100 billion gallons of rain on the upper susquehanna watershed from june 21 to 23. A view of downtown pottstown after hurricane agnes flooded the schuylkill and its tributaries in 1972. The effects of agnes were widespread, from the caribbean to canada, with much of the east coast of the united states affected. Pottstown guardian angels, 23 n hanover st, pottstown, pa. Your assistance is requested in locating the following subject wanted by the pottstown police department. Home video archives from my fathers 8mm camera of the aftermath of hurricane agnes recorded while visiting family in pottstown pa. I was 4 months pregnant with my son tj when agnes hit.
Hurricane agnes devastated the ailing railroads in the northeast as floodwaters destroyed many rail lines. Flash flooding engulfs cars, overwhelms businesses in. Alice sheppard to memories of summer baseball games long past and a community united in the aftermath of hurricane agnes, snyder deftly captures the spirit and history of pottstown. The remnants from hurricane agnes brought torrential rainfall and major flooding to the pennsylvania. Yerger was mayor of pottstown in 1972 when hurricane agnes hit, and his daughter said he was very proud that no lives were lost, considering the amount of damaged caused. A view of downtown pottstown after hurricane agnes flooded. Support more reporting like this with a subscription to the pottstown mercury.
Late june 1972, the pottstown area was under water thanks to hurricane agnes. Next week marks the 40th anniversary of hurricane agnes and the most damaging flooding in the regions history. Hurricane agnes originated in the caribbean sea region in midjune. Hundreds of people were evacuated and over a hundred homes destroyed. The hurricane, which made landfall in the florida panhandle on june 19, slowly made its way north, before stalling out over the midatlantic region for several days. Agnes began as a tropical depression near the yucatan peninsula on june 15. Erie was the only pennsylvania county to be spared. Catonsville, md newspaper accounts of the time state that the hurricane devastated the state park. Although 40 years have passed, those who witnessed the floods and devastation caused by hurricane agnes june 2226, 1972, hold stark memories of what flooding did to their towns. Hurricane agnes, 1972 atlantic hurricane, hurricane. By june 17, agnes strengthened into a minimal hurricane with 75 mph winds as it trekked slowly northward across the southeast gulf.
Floods reached as far inland as 3rd street in the heart of the city. A battle lost pearl street bridge lies in the bottom of the river, the casualty of hurricane agnes photo by dick neal. Agnes flood, 45 years of memories times tribune blogs. Ronald purvis, 32, of pottstown, is wanted by the pottstown police for drug delivery resulting in death in the march 30, 2017 overdose of kevin high. Her intensity changed little until landfall was made on the gulf coast near tallahassee, florida. West chester, pa three day weather forecast accuweather. Hurricane agnes, 1972 hurricane season, atlantic hurricane. The pottstown mercurys headlines in late june 1972 were as dramatic as they come in the newspaper business. Hurricane agnes 1972, boyertown pottstown pennsylvania area. Nationwide, there were 122 deaths attributed to agnes, 50 in the state of pennsylvania. A tropical systems heavy rains and flooding usually cause the most damage and loss of life.
Although 40 years have passed, those who witnessed the floods and devastation caused by hurricane agnes june 2226, 1972, hold stark. Agnes formed over mexicos yucatan peninsula on june 14, became a tropical storm in the caribbean sea on june 16, and made landfall along the florida panhandle as a category 1 hurricane on june 19. The mercury from pottstown, pennsylvania on february 28. Pottstown, pa patch breaking local news events schools. Chester county felt the wrath of tropical storm agnes june 22, 1972. October 15, 1954 hurricane hazel caused hurricane force winds and small portions with 6 inches 150 mm or more of rain. The tropical storm agnes flood of 1972 is still the benchmark by which all floods are measured. Hurricane agnes finally said goodbye to pennsylvania on june 25 with its sights set on western new york.
In reading, the schuylkill river reached a record flood of 31. Pottstown historical society, 568 e high st, pottstown, pa. Susquehanna river, pa hurricane agnes flood of 1972. Circulation barely reached hurricane intensity for a brief period in the gulf of. The second tropical cyclone and first named storm of the the 1972 atlantic hurricane season, agnes developed on june 14 from the interaction of a polar front and an upper trough over the yucatan peninsula. But will it be as bad as one of the citys worst floods.
From tales of gallant civil war colonel john rutter brooke and the dedicated dr. Unfortunately, many homeowners fail to realize that the average insurance policy does not cover flooding. See more ideas about 40th anniversary, atlantic hurricane and pennsylvania history. Ham operators have provided reliable communications out of the affected areas during hurricane agnes in 1972, the johnstown flood in 1977, three mile island nuclear plant meltdown, 1999, flight 93 crash, shanksville, 2001, tropical storm henri, 2002, the quecreek mine disaster in 2002, campbelltown tornado 2004, dozens of weather and natural. Hurricane agnes 1972, boyertown pottstown pennsylvania. When agnes hit, continue reading hurricane agnes 45 years ago today. View eileen fausts profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. Ronald purvis, 32, of pottstown, is wanted by the pottstown police for drug delivery resulting in death in. Another system that brought copious flooding is agnes, which is the storm of record for wilkesbarre, reading, harrisburg, and pottstown when it comes to flooding as the forlorn storm stalled out.
Acceptable slight wear to corners see pictures see more american and. Get your 3day weather forecast for west chester, pa. Wednesday, february 28, 1973 nes is a name most pottstown area residents wont soon forget. Hurricane agnes and the flood of 72 part 1 youtube. Jun 19, 2017 45 years ago this week, pennsylvania was the epicenter of one of the worst natural disasters to hit the united states. They closed the bridge between royersford and spring city, not only because of the rising water level, but they feared the old train tressel that passed across the way and not far from the main road would collapse and take down the much traveled bridge. All high school graduation ceremonies cancelled in montco. Vintage 1972 hurricane agnes and great flood newspaper. View of occoquan bridge damage an overhead view of the jef. June 2017 marks the 45 year anniversary of hurricane agnes, one of the most costly natural disasters in pennsylvania history. Everybodys got an agnes flood story, feel free to share yours. Remembering hurricane agnes the flood of 72 my fingerlakesny.
Cbs fastmoving floodwaters are raging in the pottstown area on thursday night. Monday 125, tuesday closed, wednesday 128, thursday 125, friday 125, saturday 104, sunday 124 by appointment only while bridal appointments are preferred, walkins are always welcome. Jul 6, 2012 a view of downtown pottstown after hurricane agnes flooded the schuylkill and its tributaries in 1972. Since hurricane agnes in 1972, according to longtime pottstown residents.
In the interest of public safety, critical coronavirus coverage is being provided free to all readers. The story of tropical storm agnes not only demonstrated disaster relief. And some readers, born after agnes, have little knowledge of what actually happened that summer in their hometown and in other parts of pennsylvania. Hurricane agnes, june 1972 hurricane joaquin could bring trouble for richmond. The pennsylvania center for the book hurricane agnes. Hurricane agnes and the flood of 72 part 22 duration. These flood pictures were donated to the society from a family that lived in the area and they show a glimpse of the devastation agnes left behind. I did a quick search and found some photos and a video. Pottstown pulled together to survive hurricane agnes. Hurricane agnes 1972, boyertown pottstown pennsylvania area home video archives from my fathers camera of the aftermath of hurricane agnes recorded while visiting family in pottstown pa. Memories of agnes are still vivid pottstown mercury. They both were instrumental in organizing rescue and reconstruction assistance for south pottstown during the devastating flood of hurricane agnes in 1972. More floods in our future for those of us who were around in 1972, the catastrophic flooding in houston last week was a reminder of pottstown s own monster flood caused by hurricane agnes.
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