Shamokin
In the Shamokin/Coal Township area, Steve Reiner, county public safety director, said Route 61, from Route 487 to Shamokin, remained closed Thursday night, as was Rock Street and the 800 and 900 blocks of Centre Street.
The worst of Thursday's flooding seemed to strike Shamokin City overnight.
Bill Milbrand, chief of the city's fire bureau and a city councilman, said waters in the first and 100 blocks of South and North Rock streets, along with the first and 100 block of Shamokin Street, had reached "chest high" at some points early Thursday morning.
The storm drainage system, he said, was taxed and unable to collect any more water.
"(Water) kept finding its way back to the streets," Milbrand said.
The city issued a volunteer evacuation, but many residents decided to brave it out. When it became too much overnight Thursday, with waters rising rapidly, many simply trudged through the water - seeking dry ground at the home of a neighbor, relative or friend.
Others needed assistance, Milbrand said, with about 10 residences evacuated. He said Kevin Richardson, the city's street foreman, utilized a front-end loader, placing the bucket onto a home's porch and having its occupants step aboard before they were driven to safety.
"The front-end loader," Milbrand said, "was the only vehicle that could make it through the flood waters."
Floating oil tanks were a hazard caused by the amount of water that flooded into some basements in the city's Fifth Ward. However, Milbrand said there were no electricity-related scares.
In all, about 75 fire bureau volunteers responded to the scene, along with emergency medical personnel and employees of the city street department.
Milbrand said a command post was established at the emergency squad, with the county communications center using its CAD system to provide emergency calls to the command post, which were then delineated to local personnel.
Milbrand recalled being 11 years old when Hurricane Agnes swept through the area in 1972. He said the flooding this week is comparable to that historic flood 39 years ago, but potential damage was minimized this time due to infrastructure upgrades.
An evacuation point was established at the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, Eighth and Arch streets, Shamokin, and monitored by the local chapter of the American Red Cross. Food was donated Thursday by Dunkin Donuts, Wal-Mart and Shepherds Table, with donations expected from Weis, Dunkin Donuts and Burger King today.
Steve Bartos, Shamokin City clerk, said approximately 110 people made their way to the center overnight Thursday, with about 75 staying the night. Some were shuttled to the center from the Fifth Ward by AREA Services ambulances.
It was reported by Coal Township Manager Rob Slaby that 40 people remained at the center early Thursday evening. (Read more about Shamokin flooding in separate stories.)
Ralpho Township
Joe Springer, Ralpho Township manager, said Thursday that township emergency personnel were kept busy Wednesday into Thursday, with several vehicle rescues and one residential rescue.
"The worst part was that nobody expected it," he said. "It wasn't forecast the way (Hurricane) Irene was the previous week."
The township Emergency Management Agency was activated, he said, with a command center set up at Elysburg Fire Company.
Aside from the rescues, Springer said emergency crews, including members of Overlook and Elysburg fire departments, were busy with the expected calls for pump details, with many residents who'd never had water in their basements before seeking help.
He said township resident Kendel Weaver, Snydertown Road, pitched in by using his vacuum truck to pump water from homes.
The flooding that occurred at Knoebels Amusement Resort will keep the facility closed for the weekend, according to its website.
Mount Carmel
The borough seemed to fare better than some of its neighboring communities when it came to flash flooding and water runoff; however, it was hardly spared.
Edward Cuff III, borough manager, said Shamokin Creek flooded onto Water Street, between Walnut and Market streets, and onto Center Street, between Chestnut and Market streets.
Mayor J. Kevin Jones said he measured 14 1/4 inches of rain in the borough since Sunday, causing more than a few flooded basements. He said basement flooding on Third Street could be attributed to an ongoing water line project.
Mount Carmel remained under a state of emergency through Thursday and into today, when Jones would decide if it were time to call it off.
Coal Township
The worst of the storm damage in Coal Township was concentrated in Ranshaw and Tharptown.
Water rescue personnel from the Sunbury area rescued five people and three dogs from residences in Tharptown early Thursday, according to Kevin Malukas, township assistant fire chief. (See separate story.)
Malukas said up to 50 volunteers of the Coal Township Fire Department had worked on pump detail and various emergency assignments during the storm.
Gene Welsh, chairman of the township commissioners, said Thursday that an elderly couple who had evacuated their Tharptown home returned about midnight only to be rescued just hours later.
In a statement he directed at all township residents, Welsh said: "When we do have mandatory or voluntary evacuations, I wish people would heed the call."
Township officials ordered a trio of Dumpsters - two set up in Ranshaw and one in Tharptown - with more on standby for residents to dispose of property ruined by flooding.
He noted that township street department workers were working on township streets until 8 p.m. Wednesday and returned to work at 4 a.m. Thursday. Cleanup efforts would continue today with street department workers concentrating their efforts in Ranshaw and Tharptown from 7 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Welsh said the workers would utilize front-end loaders to help residents clear away debris and damaged property.