Nothing commanded the attention of Northumberland County residents - indeed, those in all of eastern Pennsylvania - like the Flood of 2011.
More than a foot of rain, on average, fell across the county between Sept. 5 and 10. Small creeks and streams overflowed their banks and runoff poured from hillsides, Several feet of water was rapidly channeled through streets and into people's homes.
Much of Northumberland County, and beyond, was inundated unlike anything seen in years - well, since 1972 to be exact, when Hurricane Agnes stormed up the East Coast.
But unlike Agnes, the wrath of Tropical Storm Lee came as a surprise to most.
The area had already dodged a bullet when Hurricane Irene came and went without causing much damage. How bad could a tropical storm be?
It was Sept. 5 when rain arrived. A day later, a flood watch was issued for 27 counties, including our own.
On Sept. 7, 10 inches or more were reported to have fallen in some spots. Much of Knoebels Amusement Resort was under water from Roaring Creek. Portions of the first and fifth wards of Shamokin met the same fate when Shamokin Creek left its channel, sections of Rock Street already having been evacuated.
Rapidly rising water in Zerbe Run led to the evacuation of three Trevorton families and a water rescue after a group of overly adventurous teens attempted to raft on the raging water.
Part of as many as 11 state highways were closed in the county at one time, including Routes 61 and 487, leaving some people stranded and unable to return home from work.
In the midst of it all, Shamokin firefighters were called to extinguish a fire on Bear Valley Avenue caused by a lightning strike.
On Sept. 8, rain continued to pour at a harrowing pace.
The Tharptown section of Coal Township was hit hard both by flooding from Shamokin Creek, runoff from Trevorton Mountain and also from backed-up storm drains along Route 61.
More than 20 people were rescued in Tharptown and at Knoebels, as well as in the village of Hamilton, near Sunbury, where emergency responders also rescued some 20 animals from an animal hospital.
Seven large but mostly empty oil silos toppled at the Duke Heating Oil property at Weigh Scales, apparently from the force of rushing water undermining their foundations.
And while the Susquehanna River thankfully stayed below the flood walls in Sunbury, it crested at 31.66 feet, second only to the Agnes-related record of 35.8 feet.
Bloomsburg wouldn't be so lucky. The river crested there Sept. 9 at 32.75 feet, a new high that tormented the low end of town and caused millions of dollars in damage. The flooding caused the Bloomsburg Fair to be canceled for the first time in 157 years.
Sept. 9 saw the rain taper off. Some emergency responders who were up and active for much of the past two days got a chance to rest, that is if they didn't have to pump water from the basements of their own homes. Others continued to help homeowners pump out water.
A day later on Sept. 10, the Mandata area was struck by flash-flooding caused by a late night thunderstorm. At least a dozen homes were affected.
Northumberland County was declared among 19 Pennsylvania counties as a disaster area. That declaration, made by President Obama, kicked off relief efforts by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
FEMA set up shop in Shamokin, opening a relief center at the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center. Hundreds upon hundreds of private claims were filed with the agency.
Public damage topped $1.25 million in Shamokin alone, nearly $1 million of it in damage to the channels for Shamokin Creek and Carbon Run. The Shamokin-Coal Township Joint Sewer Authority expected its damages to top $500,000.
The city continues to work with FEMA to tear down six homes condemned along Rock Street, along with another home on North Third Street.