A truck enters the flood waters at the intersection of Freedom Avenue and Logan Boulevard in in Burnham in June 1972.

Agnes’ fury devastating to region

On June 22, 1972, no one expected a flood.

That isn’t to say the denizens of the Juniata River Valley were surprised when the water rose — it happened before. More than once.

The river is a source of commerce, a means of transportation, a place for recreation. It’s a thing of beauty in our lives every day.

Except when it overflows.

Rain was predicted by the National Weather Service that week, but flooding was only anticipated in the far reaches of Western Pennsylvania.

Agnes, a hurricane that had been downgraded to tropical storm status, didn’t read the forecast. Two days later, the destruction of the brutal storm was at its peak.

Agnes took us by surprise not because we were unaware of her, but from the unusual and unexpected weather pattern that brought her to us. And the damage she wrought to this area — the worst of any community in any state that saw Agnes’ strength and fury — is still significant in our collective memories.

There will never be another Agnes — literally, as it is one of five storm names retired by the National Weather Service due to their severity.

During the storm, Agnes dropped 12 inches of rain in Lewistown, and the Juniata River rose to 42.1 feet — more than 19 feet above flood stage. Pennsylvania sustained $2 billion in damage; 50 Keystone State residents perished in the flood.

Flood damage caused by tropical storm Agnes was estimated in excess of $75,000,000 in the Juniata Valley alone.

It is one of three major floods to strike the Juniata Valley in a span of less than a century. Each of them had three things in common: An element of surprise, a wake of destruction, and a recovery fueled by those who do not so much deny Mother Nature as respect her, and eventually restore the communities we call home.

There’s another recurrent theme to the floods that changed our lives — 1889, 1936 and 1972 — and that’s the moment in time they represent in our history. We think of life before the flood and after. It is a defining moment, one that dominates our memories.

Newspapers, they say, write the first draft of history — and this topic is one reported in our pages time and again.

Here are excerpts from our 1972 reporting, a poignant reminder of the early hours, and eventual wrath, of the storm that cannot be forgotten:

Rampage!

Webster defines the word as “a course of violent, riotous, or reckless action or behavior.” Never has the usually placid Juniata River and her tributaries gone on a more unforgettable rampage than during the last week of June 1972.

When the stream returned to the confines of the banks from which she had erupted so suddenly, she left in her wake a scene of unbelievable destruction.

Civil Defense officials and the Corps of Army Engineers have made preliminary estimates that set the cost of the brief rampage close to the $250 million mark.

Thousands of homes destroyed or damaged. Approximately one thousand mobile homes destroyed. Countless outbuildings smashed to splinters. Millions of dollars damage to industry. Many farm crops ruined. Hundreds of business places with inventory beyond salvaging.

The huge bill for cleaning up the seemingly endless sea of slimy mud. The millions of dollars needed to replace bridges hurled into the relentless torrent by the fury of nature at its worst. The highways to be rebuilt. All combine to make the Flood of ’72 the most expensive natural disaster ever to strike the heartland of Pennsylvania.

And no amount of money can pay for the inestimable cost of human misery and suffering. Thousands of families lost nearly all of their personal possessions. Most saw the raging waters smash years of work and sacrifice overnight.

And all too many have no homes to clean up. There’s nothing left but the gaping holes that once were foundations.

Rain had fallen incessantly more than a week, but nobody was really worried. Everyone complained, but the disaster that was taking shape never entered anyone’s mind until late Wednesday, June 21.

At that time, Civil Defense officials began to keep an even closer watch on the streams that were already bursting their banks in the rural areas. By Thursday, June 22, the possibility of a repeat of the 1936 catastrophe was looming ever larger.

Thursday, June 22

A state of “extreme emergency” was declared in Pennsylvania by Gov. Milton J. Shapp.

Shapp in addition instructed Civil Defense directors to assess the flooding situation and to determine whatever aid they need.

The declaration was necessitated by the reaction to Tropical Storm Agnes. The storm has been inching its way northward through the western two-thirds of the Commonwealth today.

As a result of the heavy rains, sudden havoc has been created for residents of the many communities in its path.

In Mifflin County, James A. Kepler, director of Civil Defense, placed a portion of his force on alert nearly 36 hours earlier. During that time, spot checks were made on creeks, especially in low lying areas. The information received was returned to Civil Defense Headquarters and tabulated in an effort to determine a plan of action to be followed.

As best that could be determined, river crest in the area was estimated to occur at approximately 2 a.m. at between 29 and 30 feet.

Friday, June 23

Mifflin County Civil Defense reported at 1 p.m. that the Juniata River stage was at 41 feet, but that the rate of climb had decreased considerably. Local officials said they expect it to crest sometime between 6 and 8 p.m.

Three days of heavy rainfall culminated Thursday in the most serious flood to hit this immediate Central Pennsylvania area in 36 years.

Hundreds of homes sustained water damage and thousands of area residents were displaced at least temporarily as the usually placid Juniata River and its tributaries turned into mighty ogres.

The Juniata flexed its muscles in a display that easily overshadowed the last major flooding of November 1950, and threatened to rival the memorable Saint Patrick Day’s Flood of 1936.

Rain continued, but at far less velocity than the Mifflin-Juniata County community experienced for the previous three days. The skies remained overcast, but the stiff winds that followed tropical storm Agnes through the area receded early this morning.

Civil Defense officials said the storm alert will remain in effect as long as the rain continues. Predictions are that there will not be a letup today, and the precipitation is given a 40 percent chance of continuing through Saturday.

Damages heavy

The south side of Lewistown again sustained the most serious damage as flood waters carrying silt and debris moved into the basements and then the first floors of hundreds of homes.

All surrounding towns along the river or creeks in the two-county area report flooding conditions that in many instances have cut them off from the outside world.

Most roads were inundated in places and many communities were without electricity or telephone service. Electric power fluctuated through the area during the night, some communities being subjected to a total blackout, while others being without power only sporadically.

34-foot mark

According to the Mifflin County Civil Defense unit, the river reached the 34-foot mark during the night, which is far short of the 43.5 mark of March 17, 1936.

But flood waters did reach the intersection of South Main and Water Streets, lapping at the curb near the Lewistown Hotel.

Evacuation

preparations

It was at 11:15 p.m. Thursday that the order was given to vacate all areas on the southwest side of South Main Street, from Kishacoquillas Creek to the Green Gables Motor Inn.

But earlier than that hour the residents had been requested to begin evacuation preparations. By midnight, Washington Avenue was closed to all traffic at Noerr Motor Freight building.

The South Side had already turned into a virtual lake by that hour, as the Lewistown sewer plant was under water. At 1 a.m. it became necessary to close the bypass road along the river in that area.

Persons trapped in the south end were instructed to report to Black Hospital building, which had been ordered opened by Mifflin County Commissioner Charles E. McNitt.

The flooding conditions were compounded by the loss of electrical power, which began at 9 p.m. when the lights began to flicker on and off. Shortly thereafter, many areas were to be without power for the entire night, while still others were subjected to only a temporary disruption of electrical service.

Kish Park

Kishacoquillas Park was completely covered. Busy Beaver was swamped, and The Logan Boulevard-Electric Avenue intersection was covered.

Evacuation proceedings were carried out at the American Viscose plant throughout the night, and water was reported to be up to the windows at Luba’s Restaurant at Burnham.

Of considerable concern was the dislodgement of a big gas storage tank at the Esso plant on Walnut Street. It had been torn from its foundation and carried into a nearby house.

All area trucking firms volunteered equipment and drivers for a towing service to pull mobile homes from low area. Despite feverish work, they were able to save only about half the trailers in the Montgomery Avenue court, the rest being covered with water, and some of them being carried from their foundations into the middle of the nearby recreation park field.

Other volunteers assisted in moving the physically handicapped, such as invalids and the blind from their homes to safer areas.

Area at standstill

The wheels of industry, business and regular community life either ground to a halt or were diversely affected. Downtown Lewistown was almost ghostly in appearance, and the loss of electric power made life in general pretty miserable.

American Viscose Company, always the first to feel the flood pinch in this area, again led the parade of industries reporting a shutdown of operations until further notice. It will be recalled by many that the riverside operation was idle for six weeks in 1936.

Just about every industry and business had its doors closed because the personnel were unable to traverse the highways, or their operations were throttled by flood water.

•••

Photos on Pages A1 and A2 courtesy of Gary Gonsar, Shirley Brown, Joseph Stallone, Mike Mowery and Paul Fagley. These and other flood photos are from our book, “Rising Waters, Agnes: The Storm That Reshaped the Juniata Valley”

Timeline: How storm struck home

Editor’s note: Retired Sentinel Special Projects Editor Jane Cannon Mort compiled a timeline highlighting events that occurred in the Juniata Valley during the Flood of 1972, using previously published reports from past editions of The Sentinel. This is an excerpt from that timeline, which was first published in The Sentinel on June 21, 2012, 40 years after the flood.

Wednesday, June 21

9:05 p.m. — Mifflin County Civil Defense Director James A. Kepler and Joe Rupe of The Sentinel and the public relations officer for the local CD chapter, tour the low-lying areas of Mifflin County. They find minor flooding, especially along the tributaries.

Township officials are put on a potential flood alert.

Mifflin County PennDOT crews barricade the road between Shrader and Lockes Banks because the water is over the highway. That scenario is to be repeated again and again for the next few days.

Thursday, June 22

Midnight — Rains become heavier and in a steady downpour.

The National Weather Service warns that a “major disaster” is developing in the wake of four days of torrential rainfall from a diehard storm called Agnes, which was stalled over the already-soaked state, causing the worst flooding since 1936.

8 a.m. — Mifflin County Civil Defense is taken off alert status and put on activated status.

A “state of extreme emergency” is declared by Gov. Milton J. Shapp.

The Granville Township Supervisors close the River Road between Fairview and Granville, and people are urged to move their trailers parked in the vicinity of Cargill’s Airport to higher grounds.

Mid-morning: The Civil Defense issues a bulletin to persons living in all low lying areas of the county to prepare for a possible evacuation.

Between 7 a.m. and noon, the Juniata River rises 5.6 feet and 1.15 inches of rainfall is recorded by the American Viscose Division of FMC Corp.

In Juniata County, a number of roads are closing, including Route 35 between McAlisterville and Mifflintown.

1:15 p.m. — The Juniata River begins to overflow its banks.

At first, motor vehicles are used in evacuation work, but this later changes to motorboats.

Early evening — Fire trucks and other emergency vehicles are being hampered in reaching distressed areas because of sightseers.

6:45 p.m. — Kish Park is swamped.

7:30 p.m. — Lewistown Hospital goes on emergency alert.

8 p.m. — Lewistown and Burnham-Derry police departments issue a joint statement threatening prosecution of all persons who hamper the movement of evacuation crews.

8 p.m. — Brooklyn Fire Co. has to halt evacuation efforts to return to the station to move its own engine. Fifteen minutes later, the engine room is covered by floodwaters.

9 p.m. — Lights begin to flicker and power is out in some areas of Lewistown. It isn’t long before many areas are without power for the entire night, while others experience only temporary disruption of electrical service.

11:15 p.m. — The order is given to evacuate all areas on the southwest side of South Main Street in Lewistown, from Kish Creek to the Green Gables Motor Inn.

Civil Defense Headquarters on Juniata Street, from which evacuation orders were given, is subjected to its own evacuation when the water comes over a 36-foot wall at the rear of the structure, threatening emergency supplies stored in the basement. Officials call in help to move the equipment.

Victory Park is completely inundated and the force of the water in Kishacoquillas Creek is strong enough to take out the Chestnut Street Bridge.

Just outside of town, water reaches nearly halfway up the side of the Goss Fertilizer building near Electric Avenue along Kish Creek.

One of the walls surrounding Standard Steel collapses during the night.

Water reaches the windows of Luba’s Restaurant.

Kishacoquillas Park is completely covered; Busy Beaver is swamped; and the Logan Boulevard-Electric Avenue intersection is covered.

A large gas storage tank at the Esso plant on Walnut Street is dislodged, torn from its foundation and carried into a nearby house.

Area trucking firms volunteer equipment and drivers to pull mobile homes from low areas, but about half of the mobile homes in the Montgomery Avenue court are covered with water, and some are carried away from their foundations into the middle of the nearby recreation park field.

A Freedom Avenue woman goes into labor. The National Guard takes her in a 2.5-ton truck through the water to the Yeagertown firehouse. From there, she is taken to the hospital in the Fame ambulance.

It’s impossible to get in or out of Mifflintown. State police are dispatched to a summer camp in Licking Creek where 50 youngsters from Altoona are on vacation. It is found best to let them camp rather than to attempt to get them out.

Friday, June 23

Midnight — Washington Avenue closes to all traffic at the Noerr Motor Freight building.

1 a.m. — The south side of Lewistown is a “virtual lake.” The Lewistown sewer plant is under water and the bypass road along the river near the plant is closed.

Persons trapped in the south side are instructed to report to the F.W. Black Hospital building, which had been ordered to open by Mifflin County Commissioner Chairman Charles E. McNitt.

Matching the rising waters of the river were its major tributaries, Kishacoquillas Creek and Jacks Creek.

4 a.m. — The steady climb of the rising waters (one foot per hour) slows signs of leveling off.

8 a.m. — The river is now only rising 8 inches per hour.

1 p.m. — The river stage is at 41 feet. It is expected to crest between 6 and 8 p.m.

6 p.m. — The Juniata River crests at 42 feet 1 inch at 6 p.m., short of the 1936 level of 43 feet 5 inches.

9 p.m. — The Juniata River starts to recede.

Saturday, June 24

3:30 a.m. — The Juniata River level begins to decrease.

5:30 a.m. — A large Army truck carrying a reporter and members of the Army National Guard lumbers toward McVeytown to check on rescue efforts. The road between McVeytown and Brooklyn Mills is closed due to a cave-in.

9 a.m. — The Juniata River level, dropping at the rate of 5 inches per hour, hits the 38.1-foot mark.

To cope with reports of looting, Lewistown Borough initiates a curfew between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.