The following is a story by C. L. Peters which appeared in the Lykens Standard, Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 13 July 1972:
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With a lot of interest we sat very comfortably and smug in our homes and read of the accounts of earthquakes in Alaska and California, and floods reeking disaster in South Dakota, little thinking it could happen here.
The on Wednesday night, June 22 [1972], we received our first warning of pending disaster. even the we felt rather secure, feeling that it could not happen here! By 2 a.m. Thursday, Main and Market Streets were raging torrents carrying from two to three feet of water. South, South Second and practically all streets suffered a similiar condition. Residents were trapped like rats in a trap.
Little did we know of the efficiency of the Army, the National Guard, Civil Defense, and all existing agencies, to cope with emergencies. Most residents were in a daze and did not realize the seriousness of conditions until the Army began evacuation endeavors. Quickly and efficiently emergency headquarters were set up at Williamstown and within minutes evacuation was in in full stride.
A few panicked, but mot people locked their doors and took matters in stride. The next look one had of their next door neighbor was the the Williamstown Emergency Center, so quickly set up at the American legion and schools. Helicopters, the century’s marvel machine, picked up the marooned and sadly trapped residents and delivered them to safety. The hospitality of neighboring communities in taking evacuees and caring for their needs was inspirational to many. The number ad the headquarters dwindled to 500 because private families took in many of the people, especially the elderly and indigent.
Doctors and medical supplies were quickly flown in and approximately 800 people, hospitalization was required for only seven.
By Monday the waters started to recede and it was learned that the valley was almost isolated. A sludge bank at Tower City broke, cutting off all traffic to the east and bridges washed out, barring access to the west. The only ingress to the town was by way of Coaldale from Loyalton, until the sludge was removed from the highway at Sheridan.
The water supply reservoir held, but was badly damaged and both swimming pools were completely filled with rocks and debris. Over 12,000 feet of paved highways were washed out and over 2,000 feet of curbing went with it. Homes were smashed, and buildings flowed away with the torrent. Cars were carried like corks until they smashed into an obstruction.
Glen Park, the pride and joy of the entire valley, is only a memory. The entire road leading to the bank is washed away, and covered with rubble and rocks. The bridge leading to Glen Heights and the park went along with the flood.
Already the agencies consigned to operation “Digging Out” are working feverishly to clear the rubble and open up the corridors. seventy five percent of the residents have potable water and electric service has been restored. More townspeople are trickling back to their homes and bracing for the back breaking work of digging out.
A special tribute must be paid to all the agencies who took part in the amazing precision of helping restore Lykens to a semblance of normalcy. The Army, National Guard, the Salvation Army, Civil defense, the Jaycees, the schools, churches, fire companies, State Health Department and Environmental Control, and the plain people Amish, who journeyed from Lebanon and Lancaster. Even our Governor Shapp and President Nixon came to assess the destruction and set up the machinery for rehabilitation.
What a blessing to know we live in a land where the by-word is “togetherness.”
Not a single life was lost under the adverse conditions and our prayers are for all the agencies who contributed to our survival.
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From “Collector’s Limited Edition” of Lykens and Williams Valley Flood of 1972, published by the Lykens Standard, Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in June 1972.
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