1996 — Jan 19-20, East Coast Flooding, especially PA (19 deaths), NY (10), VA (5) — 38

lornajarrettblanchard October 22, 1996

— 38 Blanchard tally of State totals below.

–~35 NYT (McFadden). “The Flooding After the Storm…Called Worst in Decades.” 1-22-1996.

— 33 NCDC, NOAA. The Winter of ´95 and ’96…A Season of Extremes. April 1996, p. 4.

Summary of Fatalities by State (Chronological)

New York –10

Pennsylvania –19

Vermont — 2

Virginia — 5

West Virginia — 2

Breakout of Fatalities by State and Locality (where noted)

New York (10)

–10 Lumia. Flood of January 19-20, 1996 in New York State. USGS, 1998, p. 1.

–10 NCDC, NOAA. The Winter of ´95 and ’96…A Season of Extremes. April 1996, p. 4.

— 1 Cayuga Co., Jan 19-20. Flash flood, female, 29, in vehicle. NCDC Storm Events Database.

— 6 Delaware County, Jan 19-20. Flash flood; Males, 1, 3, 23, 27, 52 and female, 32, vehicular.[1]

— 1 Schenectady County, Jan 19-20. Mudslide caused by heavy rains; male, 42, outdoors.[2]

— 2 Schoharie Village, Jan 19-20. Males, 49 and 72, trapped by fast rising water at home.[3]

Pennsylvania (19)

–19 NCDC, NOAA. The Winter of ´95 and ’96…A Season of Extremes. April 1996, p. 4.

–17 NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Search Results all PA Counties all Event Types.[4]

— 1 Bedford County, Jan 19. Truck swept away 2^nd attempt crossing flooded road; female, 62.[5]

— 1 Blair County, Geeseytown, Jan 19. Male, 17, surrounded by rising water and drowned.[6]

— 1 Blair County, Jan 19. Heart attack, female, 68, when home was surrounded by water.[7]

— 1 Cumberland Co., Middlesex, Jan 19. Male, 32, drove around a barricade, had to abandon car.[8]

— 4 Juniata Co., Jan 19. Flash flood; females, 34 and 35; males 38 and 8, after leaving cars.[9]

— 1 Lycoming Co., Cogan Station, Jan 19. Female, 38, fell from roof of her mobile home into water.[10]

— 1 Lycoming Co., Cogan Station, Jan 19. Male, 54, attempting to climb to roof of his trailer.[11]

— 1 Lycoming Co., March Hill, Jan 19. Male, 68; attempting to drive away from hunting cabin.[12]

— 2 Lycoming Co., Trout Run, Jan 19. Male, 77, wife, 75, swept away trying to drive from home.[13]

— 1 Lycoming Co., Williamsport, Jan 19. Female, 59, slipped off roof of her stalled truck in water.[14]

— 1 Montgomery Co., Lower Frederick Twp., Jan 19. Male, 47, drove into flooded Perkiomen Creek.[15]

— 1 Montgomery Co., Pottstown, Manatawny Creek. Jan 20. Male, 25, jumped or fell into creek.[16]

— 1 Montgomery Co. ~Providence Twp., Jan 19. Male, 41, tried to drive across flooded bridge.[17]

— 1 Snyder, Selinsgrove, Jan 19. Drowning; male, 75, in car after first refusing to evacuate.[18]

Vermont ( 2)

— 2 NCDC, NOAA. The Winter of ´95 and ’96…A Season of Extremes. April 1996, p. 4.

— 2 Franklin County (western), Jan 19 and 21. Female, 14, attempting to save father, 50.[19]

Virginia ( 5)

— 1 Albemarle County, Jan 19. Male, in vehicle. NCDC Storm Events Data Base, Flash Flood.

— 4 Culpeper Co., Hazel Riv., Jan 19-21. Vehicle driven into floodwater; males 16, 20; females 14, 15.[20]

West Virginia ( 2)

–2 NCDC, NOAA. The Winter of ´95 and ’96…A Season of Extremes. April 1996, p. 4.

–1 NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Search results all WV Counties, all event types.[21]

–1 Morgan County, Jan 19. Female, 51, vehicle. NCDC Storm Events Database. Flash Flood.

Narrative Information

General:

NCDC: “The sudden warm-up that followed [early Jan blizzard] proved to be almost as deadly and damaging as the blizzard itself. Burlington, VT recorded 65 F on January 19. Moderate to heavy rains (3.03 inches in 24 hours at Williamsport, PA) and rapid snowmelt triggered serious flooding along the Delaware, Susquehanna, upper Ohio, Potomac and James River basins, with crests as much as 20 feet above flood stage. The flooding killed 33 people, forced over 200,000 from their homes, and destroyed or damaged hundreds of roads and bridges.

“In Harpers Ferry, WV, where the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers meet, the water crested at 31 feet–13 feet above flood stage. USGS scientists estimated that the Potomac River crested at a flow of 312,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) at Point of Rocks, MD, nearing the level of 347,000

cfs reached in June of 1972 after rains from Hurricane Agnes. The Susquehanna River at Harrisburg, PA crested at 570,000 cfs, well below the flow of 1 million cfs reached in June 1972 from Hurricane Agnes.

“State officials reported flood fatalities as follows:

Pennsylvania–19 [Gelber (2006, 215), as well, notes 19 deaths.]

New York–10

West Virginia–2

Vermont–2

“No flood -related deaths have been reported from Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, or New Jersey. Presidential disaster declarations included the states of Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and New York.” (NCDC, NOAA. The Winter of “95 and ’96, 1996, p. 4.)

McFadden/NYT, Jan 22: “Swollen rivers and streams across the New York and mid-Atlantic regions receded yesterday as tens of thousands of evacuated residents returned to flood-ravaged homes and businesses in eight states, and public officials began to assess the costs of the worst flooding in decades. But the danger had not passed everywhere. Some 10,000 residents were still being evacuated yesterday from West Virginia towns along the surging Ohio River. About 1,100 homes on Wheeling Island, at Wheeling, were under six feet of water, their 3,000 occupants still refugees. So were the 700 residents of Port Deposit, Md., in the shadow of an overflowing river dam….

“Deep into a winter that has brought heavy snows, bitter cold, pounding rains and a January thaw that suddenly melted the mountainous snowpack across eight states, weekend floods added another misery for thousands along the great tree of eastern waterways: the Susquehanna, the Delaware, the Monongahela, the Ohio, the Allegheny, the Potomac and other rivers and their latticework tributaries.

“As the engorged rivers crested and fell, the toll of death and damage began to emerge, and emergency officials in many areas called it the worst flooding since Tropical Storm Agnes in 1972, which killed 48 people and left 220,000 homeless in Pennsylvania alone, or Hurricane Eloise, which caused 44 deaths and hundreds of millions in damage from the Caribbean to New England in 1975. Since Friday’s heavy rains and unseasonal warmth, which unleashed the melting and flooding, at least 35 weather-related deaths have been reported in the East, 10 of them in New York State. Five people are missing.

“While many rivers and streams crested above flood stage, all did not overflow their banks and many areas were spared. But flood damage was heavy in dozens of locales, including Pittsburgh; Wilkes-Barre; Cumberland, Md.; Wheeling, W.Va., and the devastated little village of Walton, N.Y., where almost every home and business was severely damaged….

“Pennsylvania appeared to have been hit hardest, and President Clinton yesterday declared the state a Federal disaster area, making available temporary housing, individual family and home repair grants, disaster unemployment benefits and low-interest loans for affected businesses and homeowners….” (NYT/McFadden. “The Flooding After the Storm: The Overview; Flooding Called Worst in Decades.” 1-22-1996.)

New York

Lumia: “Heavy rain during January 18-19, 1996, combined with unseasonably warm temperatures that caused rapid snowmelt, resulted in widespread flooding throughout New York State. Damages to highways, bridges, and private property exceeded $100 million. The storm and flooding claimed 10 lives, stranded hundreds of people, destroyed or damaged thousands of homes and businesses, and closed hundreds of roads. Forty-one counties in New York were declared federal disaster areas. The most severely affected region was within and surrounding the Catskill Mountains. Damages and losses within Delaware County alone exceeded $20 million.

“More than 4.5 inches of rain fell on at least 45 inches of melting snow in the Catskill Mountain region during January 18-19 and caused major flooding in the area. The most destructive flooding was along Schoharie Creek and the East and West Branches of the Delaware River….”

(Lumia. Flood of January 19-20, 1996 in New York State. USGS, 1998, p. 1.)

NCDC on Schenectady County: Snowmelt and rain “resulted in widespread flooding across Schenectady County including the flooding of the Mohawk River and Schoharie Creek. Federal Disaster Assistance was made available by presidential declaration. Small streams flooded across the entire county which resulted in many road washouts. Flooding was extensive along the Mohawk River especially in the Stockade region of Schenectady. Over fifty people were evacuated from this area. In Schenectady heavy rains caused a mudslide in which mud and debris broke loose from a hillside and crushed a man who was fueling a vehicle at a gas station. Gallopville Road in Duanesburg was heavily damaged and Rosendale Road in Niskayuna was damaged by ice moving down the flooded Mohawk River.” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood [mudslide], NY, Eastern Schenectady, Jan 19-20, 1996.)

NCDC on Schoharie County: “An intense area of low pressure which was located over the Mid-Atlantic region on Friday morning January 19th produced unseasonably warm temperatures, high dewpoints and strong winds. This resulted in rapid melting of one to three feet of snow. In addition to the rapid snowmelt one to three inches of rain fell as the system moved northeast along the coast. This resulted in widespread flooding across Schoharie County and a record breaking flood on the Schoharie Creek. Federal Disaster Assistance was made available by presidential declaration. Village of Schoharie and Middleburgh saw the most severe flooding. Along the Schoharie Creek 55 single homes were destroyed, 125 suffered major damage, 316 suffered minor damage, 6 mobile homes were destroyed, 111 cattle were drowned and 375 acres of farmland was damaged. Two Village of Schoharie residents died due to exposure when fast rising waters trapped them in their home. At Priddle Camp near Esperance 15 homes were destroyed and 10 suffered major damage. Many roads were washed out across the county with 8.5 million dollars of damage incurred to county roads and bridges. Heavy damage occurred in the following places Stryker Road in the Town of Gilboa, Junction Road and bridge in Esperance, state route 900v and bridge at Gilboa, Sholtes and Schoonmaker bridges in Wright, River Street and route 30 in Middleburgh and route 7 over Schoharie Creek. In Middleburgh the downtown area was evacuated and in Schoharie several businesses were flooded including the Harva Company, The Printers and Great American.” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood, New York, Schoharie, Jan 19-20, 1996.

Pennsylvania

NCDC: “The combination of snowmelt from the previous week’s two storms, unseasonably warm temperatures and an additional one to two inches of rain caused the flash flooding of almost every small stream and significant roadway flooding the afternoon and early evening hours on the 19th. Major flooding of the larger streams and rivers in Pennsylvania continued through the 21st. The flooding caused three deaths, all in Montgomery County, three injuries and about $50 million dollars in property damage. All of Pennsylvania was declared a disaster area and extra public assistance was given to Northampton, Bucks and Monroe Counties, the hardest hit counties in the Southern Poconos and Southeast Pennsylvania. In many places the Delaware River crested at its highest stage since 1955. Numerous vehicle rescues occurred. The following paragraphs will contain a county by county summary of damages along with specific stage information. [Bolding emphasis added.]

“….Berks County escaped with the least amount of damage and the lowest number of water rescues in the area. Ten people were evacuated along the Schuylkill River in Muhlenberg Township. Several homes were damaged. On the 19th a Sinking Spring man died after falling from a roof he was trying to clear of snow. The Schuylkill River in Berne crested at 14.32 feet at 1030 p.m. on the 19th. Flood stage is 12 feet. The river crested at 15.85 feet in Reading at 6 a.m. on the 20th. Flood stage is 13 feet….

“Bucks County, like Northampton County suffered from the combination of both small stream and large river flooding with townships along the Delaware River taking the brunt. About 5,000 persons (1,500 in Yardley) from nine communities were evacuated, mainly along the Delaware River from Riegelsville to Yardley on the 20th. A state of emergency was declared at 3 p.m. on the 20th. Seven bridges between Bucks County and New Jersey were closed. River Road, [PA] State Route 32, was clogged with up to four feet of ice chunks and debris (including floating propane tanks) almost along its entire county length. Pennsylvania State Route 611 was also closed in the northern part of the county. A mile-long stretch of ice closed the road near Riegelsville. Homes near the Paunnaccusing Creek were evacuated also as flooding along the Delaware River backed up the creek. One hundred homes in Quakertown were also flooded. Flooding damaged three ball fields in Sellersville. Ice jams along the Neshaminy Creek caused flooding in Croydon and Fergusonville. Yardley, Bridgeton and Tinicum Townships were the hardest hit communities along the Delaware on the 20th. About 65 people were rescued after refusing to evacuate or ignoring barricades. Two were treated for hypothermia. In Yardley, 230 homes suffered flood damage, 79 had major damage and 36 businesses also had flood damage. In New Hope, power was cut off for 28 hours because of the flooding. This village is a very popular tourist attraction and many restaurants’ food perished. Waterloo Street was hardest hit. In Tinicum Township, many side roads were washed out. About 50 to 60 homes had damage exceeding $1,000,000. About 450 homes throughout the county suffered flood damaged. The Neshaminy Creek in Langhorne crested at 14.98 feet at 1 a.m. on the 20th. Flood stage is 9 feet. Along the Delaware River at Riegelsville it crested at 28.72 feet at 615 pm on the 20th. Flood stage is 19 feet. At New Hope, the river crested at 15.34 feet at 11 p.m. on the 20th. Flood stage is 13 feet. At Trenton, the river crested at 22.19 feet at 130 a.m. on the 21st. Flood stage is 20 ft.

“In Carbon County, 17 of 23 townships reported flood damage. In all 365 homes suffered major flood damage and 1,185 suffered minor flood damage. In addition 6 apartment buildings, 13 businesses, 34 roads, 51 sewer lines, 13 electrical systems and 3 parks were damaged by the flooding. Palmerton and Parryville were the hardest hit townships. In Parryville, a mile long culvert was washed out. In Palmerton the flooding along the Aquashicola Creek on the 19th forced the evacuation of about 100 persons along a four block stretch of Delaware Avenue and a two block stretch of Lehigh Avenue. Residents returned to find their basements full of mud. The Lehigh River in Lehighton crested at 12.16 feet at 1 a.m. on the 20th. Flood stage is 10 feet….

“In Chester County, 109 persons in an Avondale apartment were evacuated as the White Clay Creek flooded. Rescues were made from about a dozen homes and trailers along River Band road in west Chester. Seven major roads were closed due to flooding, including the intersection of the two busiest roads in the county…[US Rt. 30 and PA Rt. 100]. Flooding along the Brandywine Creek caused severe damage ($125,000) in the Brandywine Picnic Park in Birmingham. In all, 324 homes, 52 apartments, 21 businesses, 170 roads and 17 municipal parks were damaged. Five bridges suffered structural damage. The hardest hit communities were Avondale, Coatesville, Downingtown and Lenape. The Schuylkill River at Pottstown crested at 14.91 feet at 1 p.m. on the 20th. Flood stage is 13 feet. The West Branch of the Brandywine Creek in Modena crested at 9.7 feet at 8 p.m. on the 19th. Flood stage is 9 feet. The East Branch of the Brandywine Creek at Downingtown crested at 12.59 feet at 7 p.m. on the 19th. Flood stage is 7 feet. The Brandywine Creek at Chadds Ford crested at 14.21 feet at 1 a.m. on the 20th. Flood stage is 9 feet.

“In Delaware County, the Chester Creek in Chester flooded parklands and a bridge. Severe urban flooding caused many water rescues starting at 130 p.m. on the 19th. The Brandywine Creek at Chadds Ford crested at 14.21 feet at 1 a.m. on the 20th. Flood stage is 9 feet. The Chester Creek in Chester crested at 11.20 feet at 5 p.m. on the 19th. Flood stage is 8 feet….

“In Lehigh County, the heavy rain caused a 75 by 6 foot snow slide in South Whiteland Township which damaged two homes and caused one injury (severed fingers). Adams Island in Allentown was evacuated due to Lehigh River flooding. Pennsylvania State Route 309 was closed in Orefield due to flooding along the Jordan River. The river crested at 9.13 feet in Allentown at 230 a.m. on the 20th. Flood stage is 7 feet. In Allentown firefighters responded to 123 calls of flooded basements, the most in twenty-two years. The Lehigh River at Walnutport crested at 12.3 feet at 9 p.m. on the 19th. Flood stage is 8 feet. In Bethlehem, the river crested at 16.9 feet at 130 a.m. on the 20th. Flood stage is 16 feet….

“In Monroe County, damage was estimated at $25 million dollars. The county was hit by flooding along the Delaware River in addition to the small stream flooding elsewhere. Three homes were completely destroyed, 134 suffered heavy damage and 1,426 suffered light damage. Six businesses also incurred heavy damage. On the 19th thirty major roadways were closed and two bridges were overrun by water. In Stroudsburg 45 persons were evacuated from the Glenbrook Apartments and 8 people were rescued from the flood waters in Barrett Township. Smithfield Township reported 15 homes suffered flood damage on the 19th. In Mount Pocono, a quarter-mile long road washout occurred. Flooding along the Delaware River caused considerable damage on the 20th in Shawnee and Price’s Landing. The 90 year-old Shawnee Inn and Country Club suffered extensive damage. Three hundred Shawnee residents were evacuated. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area suffered $2 million dollars in damage. The Lehigh River at Stoddardsville crested at 9.64 feet at 930 p.m. on the 19th. Flood stage is 7 feet. The Tobyhanna Creek in Blakeslee crested at 11.67 feet at 1030 p.m. on the 19th. The Delaware River crested at 25.7 feet at 1 a.m. on the 20th. Flood stage is 21 feet….

“All three of the flooding caused deaths occurred within Montgomery County. About 830 p.m. on the 19th a 47-year-old male drove into the flooded Perkiomen Creek at the intersection of Arcola and Level Roads in Lower Frederick Township. He climbed out of the car through the passenger side, but was unable to make it to shore. His body was found on the afternoon of the 20th near a sewage treatment plant. About 1030 p.m. on the 19th, a 41-year-old male moved a blockade and tried to cross a flooded bridge over the Perkiomen Creek between Upper and Lower Providence Townships. His vehicle was swept away. His body was found 1,500 feet downstream the next morning. On the 20th, a 25 year-old man apparently jumped into the Manatawny Creek in Pottstown and drowned. He allegedly had just robbed a convenience store and was trying to run away from the police. There were numerous other rescues within the county including a stranded school bus in Lower Moreland Township and two teenagers rescued from the flooded Macoby and Unami Creeks on the afternoon of the 19th. Ninety persons were evacuated from the Bridgeport Towers along the Schuylkill River in Norristown. Twenty persons were evacuated in Collegeville near the Perkiomen Creek. Within the county 280 homes suffered damage, 50 with major damage. In addition, 85 businesses were flooded and three mobile homes were destroyed. Flooding ripped front porches from homes in Upper Providence Township and a Lower Providence Township home had ten feet of water in it. The hardest hit communities were Bridgeport, Collegeville, Lower Providence, Norristown, Upper Providence and Whitemarsh. The Schuylkill River at Pottstown crested at 14.91 feet at 1 p.m. on the 20th. Flood stage is 13 feet. It crested at 19 feet in Norristown. The Perkiomen Creek in Graterford crested at 16.26 feet at 9 p.m. on the 19th. Flood stage is 11 feet.

“Northampton County endured the combination of both small stream and significant large river flooding. Long lengths of Pennsylvania State Route 611 were closed due to flooding, river debris and suffered road erosion. Most of the significant flood damage occurred along the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers. In Upper Mount Bethel Township, twelve homes were damaged and hundreds were evacuated. Portland within the township was hard hit as all small streams and the Delaware River flooded the town. Roads were filled with silt, mud and river debris. Two houses were damaged by ice chunks. In Forks Township, 50 homes were damaged and about 50 persons were evacuated. In Easton, flooding was severe near the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers. Evacuations were ordered for homes near both rivers. All downtown streets and parks were flooded especially along Larry Holmes Drive. About 50 homes (20 seriously) and three businesses were flooded. The city garage was damaged. A half submerged man was rescued from the Lehigh River Saturday evening the 20th. A state of emergency had to be declared to remove gawkers. In West Easton, two homes suffered flood damage and about 20 persons were evacuated. In Williams Township, 13 homes suffered flood damage. The Lehigh River at Walnutport crested at 12.3 feet at 9 p.m. on the 19th. Flood stage is 8 feet. In Bethlehem, the river crested at 16.9 feet at 130 a.m. on the 20th. Flood stage is 16 feet. The Lehigh River at Walnutport crested at 12.3 feet at 9 p.m. on the 19th. Flood stage is 8 feet. In Bethlehem, the river crested at 16.9 feet at 130 am on the 20th. Flood stage is 16 feet. The Delaware River at Belvidere Bridge crested at 22.94 feet at 1 pm on the 20th. Flood stage is 20 feet. The river crested at 30.65 feet at Phillipsburg at 4 p.m. on the 20th. Flood stage is 22 feet. For most places the crest along the Delaware was the highest since 1955….

“In Philadelphia, flooding along the Schuylkill River caused the worst damage, especially in Manayunk. Main Street in Manayunk was under two to three feet of water with up to 5 feet of water in basements. Kelly, West River and Lincoln Drives were all closed due to river flooding. A mudslide compounded the problems along Kelly Drive. The Schuylkill River in Philadelphia crested at 13.36 feet at Midnight on the 20th/21st. Flood stage is 11 feet. This was estimated as a once in 50 year flood for the river within the city….” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County, Jan 19-20, 1996.)

Virginia

NCDC: “High dewpoint temperatures melted most of the snow on the ground within 12 hours. The snow pack had a liquid equivalent between 2 to 3 inches. Snowmelt, combined with 1 to 3 inches of rain (some locations received nearly 5 inches), caused the worst regional flooding in over 10 years. River flooding began during the flood/flash flood event along the headwaters of all basins and continued downstream through the 22nd. Crests ranged from 3 to 21 feet above flood stage.

“High water caused millions of dollars in damage, closed roads, destroyed homes and businesses, and forced the evacuation of several towns. Four people were rescued by the National Park Service and Fairfax County Fire Department at Great Falls…when they wandered onto the rocks to view the raging Potomac and became stranded. Several kayakers were also rescued while trying the sail the rough waters. Although low-water bridges remained closed, a vehicle carrying three teenagers and one adult dared the high waters of the Hazel River… — and lost. All four perished as the automobile was swept downstream.

“Flood waters covered Union Street and the lower part of King Street along the river in Old Town Alexandria…and affected Washington National Airport, but not the runways. The city of Waynesboro…estimated $3 million in damage ($1 million to residential areas; $2 million to businesses). In Rockingham Co… $2.2 million in damage was attributed to the loss of inventory at Hartz Corporation, an apparel manufacturer. High water also caused $70 thousand in damage to Opequon Water Reclamation Facility in Frederick Co….” (NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood, Virginia, Culpeper, Jan 19-21, 1996.)

Sources

Gelber, Ben. The Pennsylvania Weather Book. Piscataway, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2002. Google preview at: http://books.google.com/books?id=34RKv9fMFo4C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Lumia, Richard. Flood of January 19-20, 1996 in New York State (Water-Resources Investigations Report 97-4252). Albany, NY: U. S. Geological Survey, 1998. Accessed at: http://ny.water.usgs.gov/pubs/wri/wri974252/WRIR97-4252toc.html

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, New York, Cayuga County, Jan 19-20, 1996. Accessed 2-8-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5583205

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, New York, Delaware County, Jan 19-20, 1996. Accessed 2-8-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5545610

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Jan 19, 1996. Accessed 2-8-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5569800

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Pennsylvania, Blair County, Jan 19, 1996. Accessed 2-8-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5569804

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Pennsylvania, Cumberland County, Jan 19, 1996. Accessed 2-8-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5569817

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Pennsylvania, Juniata County, Jan 19, 1996. Accessed 2-8-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5569819

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Pennsylvania, Lycoming County, Jan 19, 1996. Accessed 2-8-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5569986

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Pennsylvania, Snyder County, Jan 19, 1996. Accessed 2-8-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5569989

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Virginia, Albemarle County, Jan 19, 1996. Accessed 2-7-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5541089

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, West Virginia, Morgan County, Jan 19, 1996. Accessed 2-7-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5541380

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood [mudslide], New York, Eastern Schenectady County, Jan 19-20, 1996. Accessed 2-8-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5553420

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood, New York, Schoharie, Jan 19-20, 1996. Accessed 2-8-2016: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5553410

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County, Jan 19-20, 1996. Accessed 2-8-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5543255

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood, Vermont, Western Franklin County, Jan 19-20-1996. Accessed 2-8-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5554216

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood, Virginia, Culpeper, Jan 19-21, 1996. Accessed 2-8-2016: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5541122

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Search Results for All Counties in Pennsylvania. All Available Event Types…between 01/17/1996 and 01/22/1996. Accessed 2-8-2016 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/listevents.jsp?eventType=ALL&beginDate_mm=01&beginDate_dd=17&beginDate_yyyy=1996&endDate_mm=01&endDate_dd=22&endDate_yyyy=1996&county=ALL&hailfilter=0.00&tornfilter=0&windfilter=000&sort=DT&submitbutton=Search&statefips=42%2CPENNSYLVANIA

National Climatic Data Center, NOAA. The Winter of ’95-’96 … A Season of Extremes (Technical Report 96-02). NOAA, NCDC, April 1996, 32 pages. Accessed 2-7-2016 at: http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/techrpts/tr9602/tr9602.pdf

New York Times (Robert D. McFadden). “The Flooding After the Storm: The Overview; Flooding Called Worst in Decades.” 1-22-1996. Accessed 2-8-2016 at: http://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/22/nyregion/the-flooding-after-the-storm-the-overview-flooding-called-worst-in-decades.html?pagewanted=all

[1] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, New York, Delaware County, Jan 19-20, 1996.

[2] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood, New York, Schenectady County, Jan 19-20, 1996.

[3] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood, New York, Schoharie County, Jan 19-20, 1996.

[4] Search dates were Jan 17-22, inclusive. An April 1996 NCDC report notes 19 deaths. Assume that one of the two differences is the heart attack death of elderly woman in Blair Co., when her home was surrounded by floodwater.

[5] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Pennsylvania, Bedford County, Jan 19, 1996. Notes the woman’s husband, who survived, was driving the truck.

[6] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Pennsylvania, Blair County, Jan 19, 1996. Notes the young man “was trapped by rising water on the Frankstown branch of the Juniata River. Rescue attempts by jet ski and helicopter failed when the youth was unable to hold onto a rope in the ice cold water.”

[7] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Pennsylvania, Blair County, Jan 19, 1996.

[8] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Pennsylvania, Cumberland County, Jan 19, 1996.

[9] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Pennsylvania, Juniata County, Jan 19, 1996. Notes “Two females and two males in three separate cars were unable to cross Tuscarora Creek between Academia and Pleasant View due to a flooded bridge. They attempted to cross the stream on foot and were swept away.”

[10] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Pennsylvania, Lycoming, Jan 19, 1996.

[11] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Pennsylvania, Lycoming, Jan 19, 1996.

[12] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Pennsylvania, Lycoming, Jan 19, 1996.

[13] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Pennsylvania, Lycoming, Jan 19, 1996.

[14] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, Pennsylvania, Lycoming, Jan 19, 1996.

[15] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County, Jan 19-20, 1996.

[16] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood, Pennsylvania, Montgomery County, Jan 19-20, 1996.

[17] NCDC. Storm Events Database. Flood, PA, Montgomery, Jan 19-20, 1996. Notes the man moved a blockade on the road then unsuccessfully “tried to cross a flooded bridge over the Perkiomen Creek between Upper and Lower Providence Townships. His vehicle was swept away. His body was found 1,500 feet downstream the next morning.”

[18] NCDC. Storm Events Database. Flash Flood, PA, Snyder, Jan 19, 1996. Notes the man “refused to abandon his home during evacuation of people near Selinsgrove. He later attempted to leave by auto and was swept away.”

[19] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood, Vermont, Western Franklin County, Jan 19-20, 1996. Notes the girl drowned on 19^th “trying to rescue her father when car was swept by water. The father died 2 days later (1/21/96) from injuries and hypothermia suffered from the accident on 1/19/96.”

[20] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Events Database. Flood, Virginia, Culpeper County, Jan 19-21, 1996.

[21] Timeframe for search was Jan 17-20 inclusive.