It took a dramatic helicopter rescue to save the Hungerbuhler family from their home at 132 Birch St. near South Washington Avenue in South Scranton. First came Connie, which formed as a tropical storm on Aug. 3, 1955, and developed into a hurricane by Aug. 5. Before the storm dumped record rainfall on the region on Aug. 18 and 19, 1955, lawns sported dry, brown grass and once-mighty creeks had dried to a mere trickle. Hurricane Diane (1955) Storm Track & Details. ... 1955, flood caused by Hurricane Diane. The largest hurricane was Unnamed in 1945. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. There was an error processing your request. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. There was an error processing your request. This collection contains rare photos, video interviews with witnesses, TV … Philadelphia (AP) - Rain-swollen rivers rampaged through eastern Pennsylania today, causing at … Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA - 1955 - Hurricane Diane - NINE DEATHS REPORTED IN EASTERN PA. 650 YOUNGSTERS MAROONED; RAIN REACHES 9 INCHES. People were rescued by boat, Army Reserve amphibious vehicles and even a helicopter from Olmstead Air Force Base in Middletown. Creeks swelled to their edges. Diane initially moved west-northwestward with little change in its intensity, but began to strengthen rapidlyafter turnin… Friday, Aug. 19, dawned bright and clear. Diane, classified as a hurricane made landfall on August 17, 1955. By late afternoon, trouble was already in sight for our region. It was the costliest and deadliest natural disaster in the region's history to that point, doing an estimated $1 billion in damage and killing more than 100, including 78 in the Poconos alone. Philadelphia (AP) - Rain-swollen rivers rampaged through eastern Pennsylania today, causing at least nine deaths and isolating towns and cities. A helicopter from Olmstead Air Force Base, near Harrisburg, rescued 29 stranded homeowners in Scranton and East Scranton. DREHER TOWNSHIP -- A devastating flood in Wayne County that killed 11 people 60 years ago is being remembered. He stayed on, apparently confident that the home could withstand the water. October 15, 1954 - Hurricane Hazel caused hurricane-force winds and small portions with 6 inches (150 mm) or more of rain. Most of the Scranton-Spring Brook Water Supply Service Co. supply lines were washed away. At about midnight, the area's waterways exploded. In August 1955 flooding caused by Hurricane Diane devastated the Scranton area. As the Lackawanna River began to rise, Scranton police hit the streets, urging homeowners to head for higher ground. The Little England neighborhood saw 18 homes damaged by Roaring Brook. On August 18, 1955, the remnants of Hurricane Diane produced massive rainfall amounts over the headwaters of the Wallenpaupack Creek, causing widespread flooding and inundating the villages of South Sterling, … The hurricane ended up being the costliest natural disaster of its time, forcing thousands to flee the rising waters and permanently changing the landscape from Moscow to Stroudsburg. Scranton, PA is in a very low risk hurricane zone. Hurricane Diane dropped 4.4 inches of rain at Avoca, almost an inch more than the average monthly rainfall for August. People gather in South Scranton after floodwaters ripped a gash in Cedar Avenue. The drone of helicopters and the screech of sirens penetrated the night. It affected the states of Idaho, Missouri, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and New York. Error! It tossed about freight cars from the Erie rail yard before barreling toward the city. August, 1955 - Hurricanes Connie and Diane both caused as much as 10 inches (250 mm) of rain and tropical storm force winds. He’s a member of Company A, 109th Infantry Regiment, National Guard. A patrolman examines a large gouged-out section of the Old Forge-Duryea Road on Aug. 19, 1955. * Upper Black Eddy-Milford - closed on account of flood, August 19, 1955 to August 22, 1955 * Riegelsville - closed on account of flood, August 19, 1955 to August 21, 1955 Rampaging waters demolished at least 32 homes and tore apart walls and foundations. The Flats section of South Scranton and the Little England neighborhood of the Petersburg section near Richter Avenue were hardest hit. Hurricane Diane followed just behind Hurricane Connie, becoming the second hurricane of the 1955 North Atlantic Hurricane Season. Hurricane Diane in 1955 dumped more than 10 inches of rain in eastern Pennsylvania, Aug. 18-19. Moving in a west-northwest motion, the depression became Tropical Storm Diane two days later. The most recent Scranton, PA hurricane was Ernesto in 2006. “Hurricanes Connie on Aug. … The 1955 Atlantic hurricane season was, at the time, the costliest season ever recorded, just ahead of the previous year. Q: Someone told me that during Hurricane Diane in 1955, an entire Boy Scout troop was camping on an island up the line somewhere, Scranton or … But Connie took a path through the middle of Pennsylvania, missing the northeastern part of the state. YOU ARE BIDDING ON 18 [6" x 3.5"] black and white photos of the devistation of Hurricane DIANE flooding the East Scranton Richter Avenue section of the city below St. Rocco's of Dunmore. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. The storm also killed more than 100 people in the region. Hurricane Diane was one of three hurricanes to hit the North Carolina coast during the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season (Figure 1). The Flats section was hit hard. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Some clouds. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. It was a hyperactive season in terms of ACE with 199, but slightly above average in terms of tropical storms, with 13 recorded tropical cyclones. By 1:10 a.m. on Aug. 19, Army reservists were piloting two amphibious craft along South Washington Avenue and River Street through about 7 feet of water. She’s lived in the area for more than a decade. Hurricane Diane was one of three hurricanes to hit the North Carolina coast during the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season. The swirling waters of Springbrook Creek swept away part of the foundation of the Moosic Methodist Church at 522 Main St. during the flooding of Aug. 18-19, 1955. Rain and snow this morning then remaining overcast for the afternoon. Diane left disaster in its wake and sparked flood control projects along Roaring Brook in the Little England neighborhood and the Flats section of Scranton. Some years ago, I was driving through town and as I drove past the public library, I saw an incredible sight! Hurricane Diane in 1955 dumped more than 10 inches of rain in eastern Pennsylvania, Aug. 18-19. Purchase books at The Times-Tribune at 149 Penn Avenue Scranton, PA, or call (570) 348-9100 for more information. Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA (Lackawanna) - 1955 - Hurricane Diane - NINE DEATHS REPORTED IN EASTERN PA. 650 YOUNGSTERS MAROONED; RAIN REACHES 9 INCHES. Wall of water tore through Scranton in 1955, tossing rail cars and tearing apart bridges. And Hurricane Diane didn’t just affect Scranton. ERIN L. NISSLEY is an assistant metro editor with The Times-Tribune. The Fall 1955 issue which contains information about Hurricane Diane. Contact the writer: localhistory@timesshamrock.com. The rushing wall of water destroyed the Cedar Avenue, Ash and Elm street bridges. The widespread devastation sparked flood mitigation projects throughout the region, many of which helped save lives and property during Hurricane Agnes in 1972. High near 40F. Rain and snow this morning then remaining overcast for the afternoon. Hurricane Diane was the first Atlantic hurricane to cause more than an estimated $1 billion in damage (in 1955 dollars, which would be $9,544,099,379 today ), including direct costs and the loss of business and personal revenue. CHERYL A. KASHUBA is a university instructor and author of "A Brief History of Scranton, Pennsylvania." Video interview with Mary Jane Memolo about her memories of Hurricane Diane. Diane came just days after Hurricane Connie on Aug. 12-13. Diane first reached tropical storm intensity late on 9 August 1955, while it was still a few hundred miles northeast of the Leeward Islands. Mrs. Ella Highfield, 60, was last seen by her husband clinging to the roof of their Ash Street home. Roaring Brook destroyed dozens of homes during the storm. In Scranton, the storm left two people dead. An hour later, Mayor James T. Hanlon declared a state of emergency, effectively shutting down the city. One of three hurricanes to hit North Carolina during the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season, it formed on August 7 from a tropical wave between the Lesser Antilles and Cape Verde. The work of cleaning up and rebuilding would take, in some cases, years. Diane made landfall to the south, and as a tropical storm proceeded to wallop the Lehigh Valley. A collection of first-person accounts—oral histories, letters, personal essays—from residents who remember the 1955 flood and its impact on the Greene-Dreher community. Submitted by Stu Beitler. Augmented by the antecedent hurricane sto m of August 11-15, the rainfall of August 17-20 accompanying hurricane Diane reached It could not. PA live! Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. On August 17, Diane struck near Wilmington, North Carolina. Hurricane Diane turned a drought into devastation 65 years ago in Northeast Pennsylvania. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Moving west-northwest, the depression became Tropical Storm Diane two days later. Thirty were dead in it's wake, mostly in the south and eastern side of town. Hurricane Information For Scranton, PA . Visible in grim reality is the havoc wrecked on this area by the surging water. Mary Jane Memolo recounts her personal memories of how Hurricane Diane affected the Richter Ave. section of East Scranton in August 1955. Aug. 3 saw the beginnings of Tropical Storm Connie, which reached hurricane strength several hundred miles northeast of the Leeward Islands on the 5th. Northeast Pennsylvania entered August 1955 parched and scorched, baked by a July that had been the single driest month in 55 years. Top Stories. This had simply not been expected, and throughout the night of terror, entire families were rescued by military units, police and volunteers. 10.15.2020 Video. To help alleviate a water shortage that was the aftermath of Aug. 18 1955 flooding in some sections of the city, employees of Scranton-Springbrook Water Service Co. rush work on a temporary pipeline at the foot of Ash Street. Little more was expected than typical flooding in cellars and on low-lying streets. But as darkness fell and the rain continued to pour down, fears rose rapidly. Click the photo and slide the Green Fade Bar for Then/Now views. Success! Another several … June 21-June 22, 1972 - Hurricane Agnes caused rain and some winds. Event Overview. Success! Low 27F. Some clouds. His body was not found. The Sunday Times Archive Times photographer Phillips Butler wades hip deep in swirling floodwaters at River Street and South Washington Avenue, in area where about 35 people were rescued by Marine Reserve amphibious craft. Friday, Oct. 16, 2020 Video. Mr. Highfield was rescued by a police row boat team, but, sadly, his wife's body was found the next day in South Scranton. Scranton experienced so much devastation, especially in the Flats section of South Side and the Petersburg section, that then-Mayor James T. Hanlon declared a state of emergency. In South Scranton, the stream carved through homes on Mattes Avenues. First detected over the Atlantic on Aug. 7, the storm reached hurricane strength on the 11th. Hurricane Diane. Hurricane Diane - August 15-19, 1955. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. It is … Approaching the 52nd anniversary of this devastating flood, this booklet is entitled: Diane Drowns Delaware Valley and was published by The Easton Express, Easton, Penna. The road crumbled after being battered by the rain-swollen Lackawanna River. Hurricane Hazel . The system began as a tropical wave over the Atlantic Ocean, which developed into a tropical depression on August 7, 1955. Home » Various States, NC, PA, NY, CT, VA, RI, NJ, MA Hurricane DIANE, Aug 1955. Local History: Hurricane Diane wreaked havoc on region. Chance of precip 90%. PA live! Various States, NC, PA, NY, CT, VA, RI, NJ, MA Hurricane DIANE, Aug 1955. Overview. 14 hurricanes have been recorded in the Scranton, PA since 1930. Diane left disaster in its wake and sparked flood control projects along Roaring Brook in the Little England neighborhood and the Flats section of Scranton. The floods of August 1955 were an unprecedented disaster in a arge area of the northeastern United States. Hurricane Diane 1955 Inundates Scranton On August 10, 1955, a cyclonic circulation was noted northeast of the Leeward Islands with tropical storm force winds. Dams inched toward their capacity. Streets were inundated, railroad tracks uprooted and bridges ripped to pieces. Chance of precip 90%. They rank among the most destructive in the country's his ory. The Lackawanna River spilled over its banks along most of its course. Error! She churned up the East Coast, slamming into North Carolina and … Each day's obituaries, delivered to your inbox. The system began as a tropical wave over the Atlantic Ocean, which developed into a tropical depression on August 7, 1955. According to National Weather Service records, Hurricane Diane caused the most destructive flooding eastern Pennsylvania had ever seen and killed more than 40 people in eastern Pennsylvania. Thursday, Aug. 18, dawned dark and ominous in Lackawanna County. Charles J. Shane, 38, of Richter Avenue, had seen that his wife and two young sons had been safely removed from their home. The hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1955, and ended on November 15, 1955. Days later, Hurricane Diane had other plans. On August 18, 1955, Hurricane Diane hits Scranton Pennsylvania, causing extreme flooding. Times photographer Phillips Butler wades hip deep in swirling floodwaters at River Street and South Washington Avenue in Scranton on Aug. 19, 1955, in an area where about 35 people were rescued by Marine Reserve amphibious craft. Hurricane Diane turned a drought into devastation 65 years ago in Northeast Pennsylvania. Find this Pin and more on Today in Historyby … An edition of the Morning Call from August 19, 1955, detailing the flooding caused by Hurricane Diane. Roaring Brook, the river's largest tributary, lived up to its name, stretching for two city blocks. Diane came just days after Hurricane Connie on Aug. 12-13. 37 people died in the Poconos after their campsite flooded in the middle of the night. The devastating flood, caused by Hurricane Diane’s march up the East Coast on Aug. 19 and 20, 1955, crushed riverside communities such as New Hope and … Each day's obituaries, delivered to your inbox. Hurricane Hazel was the deadliest and costliest hurricane of the 1954 hurricane season (Figure 1) and is the strongest and only Category 4 hurricane to ever hit the North Carolina coast. The military, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Civil Defense and other groups worked to feed and shelter those left homeless by the devastating storm and to provide meals for rescue workers. The river and the brook, whipped by the wind into a frenzy, formed a wall of destruction that hit the city of Scranton hard. The Pennsylvania guardsman. Mother Nature unleashed rain in a steady, drenching downpour as Diane hit land in southeastern Pennsylvania. High near 40F. 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