An article that appeared in the Harrisburg Evening News, 10 July 1972, describing the damage that occurred in Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, and surrounding area in the Great Flood of 1972, as well as the efforts at clean-up and replacement:
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FLOODED LYKENS DISPLAYS COURAGE IN FLOOD CLEAN-UP
LYKENS — This anthracite coal community used to hard work, still was knee deep in the job of cleaning up today, more than two weeks after hurricane Agnes struck with a ferocity unmatched in the borough’s history.
Like most small towns struck either by river or creek floods, mud slides, washes of coal culm onto lawns and into houses, Lykens has had to depend primarily on limited resources to match strength with nature on a rampage.
Lykens, according to Earl Buffington, borough disaster coordinator, does have the technicians, engineers or heavy equipment some larger communities have been able to marshal in the crises which follow disaster.
One thing Lykens did have after the flood, unique from most other areas, was piles of boulders that finished the business of destruction left undone by water and debris.
Longtime residents of Lykens find it difficult to believe the small rattling Creek could carry boulders in some cases as big as a bushel basket and deposit them in streets and swimming pools.
The west end of town, where the creek joins the larger Wiconisco Creek, was hit hard.
Officials of Lykens have not been able to tally the loss of homes, personal property and utilities.
Buffington estimates it will cost the borough, with its population of about 2,500, at least $300,000 just to clean up streets.
in some cases, the asphalt was lifter from the sub-base and deposited on lawns on porches, leaving mud-soaked thoroughfares between rows of modest single dwellings.
Seven bridges, vital to the borough were lost. The swollen Wiconisco Creek lifted the span carrying route 209 from its abutments and carried it downstream, where it is visible in the stream bed.
Six bridge, including one leading into the “Glen,” a municipal park and recreation center, disappeared in the current of Rattling Creek.
Buffington, who works for the Reiff and Nestor Tool Company, hard hit by the flood, said three of these bridge were replaced by resident’s decision to lay drain pipe in the creek and cover them with dirt to provide access to the reservoir south of town on Rattling Creek. No engineers, no contracts — just ingenuity coming up with an answer.
Since those early days, Buffington said, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has come in.
“Captain Larry Connell of the Army Engineers has worked day and night to get the job of cleaning of debris and streets in high gear,” Buffington said.
Borough Secretary Harold Shambaugh expressed gratitude to the National Guardsmen, State Police and Army helicopter crews who immediately after the flood airlifted food, military supplies, a water chlorinator and 5,000 sandbags to bolster the dam at the reservoir.
Most of all they praised the people and businessmen of outlying communities who sent equipment and provided their own labor in rescue and cleanup and opened their home to flood victims.
When it appeared there had been damage to footings of the reservoir. Buffington said, 150 volunteers walked a mile in driving rain to put them in place.
The dam appears to be safe, he said, but had it gone, additional water and rocks would have spread the misery which struck hardest in the west end of town, the north side and at the “Glen.”
The Market Street, only the foundations remain where a house stood. Near Route 209, leading out of town, there is what once was a mobile home park. Twisted wreckage of upturned and smashed luxury trailers remains.
A parking lot outside of a combination food store and bowling alley is pipped slightly more than the laminated approaches to the lanes.
“A lifetime of hard work and saving is all gone,” the proprietress said.
There was some bitterness voiced by residents that the closest they have been able to come to the Small Business Administration is to pick up forms at the “Disaster Center” in the Lykens Elementary School for filing in Harrisburg or Lebanon.
Daniel Bopp, an assistant disaster coordinator, Buffington and Shambaugh estimated at least 1,000 persons in a community which has survived the passing of its once chief industry – coal – were made jobless by the flood waters in Lykens.
Among the other businesses damaged were the Lykens Shirt Factory, Reiff and Nestor, American Heat reclaiming, and Jude Casual. All these have gone back into business or are working toward resuming operations.
From 300 to 400 persons were evacuated during the flood to either a school in Lykens or the Williamstown American Legion Home, At one time, 1,500 meals were served refugees. Guardsmen and volunteer workers.
The American Red Cross, which set up a disaster headquarters in Lykens about a week ago, reported providing assistance to 196 families as of last week.
Such assistance included vouchers for purchase of food, clothing, a month’s house rent, medicines, bedding, towels, glasses and dinette sets.
Miss Kathleen Knight, a Red Cross worker dispatched from Fort Dix, New Jersey, and Mrs. Mary Lyon, disaster chairman of the Harrisburg Red Cross, said the organization’s next phase would be rehabilitation of homes for persons without adequate financial resources to cope with their losses.
Eligible people will receive furniture, tools needed on their jobs and repair or rebuilding of homes. Said Mrs. Lyon, “We’ll stay until the job is done.”
The swimming pool at Lykens was filled to within a few feet of the top with muck and the ubiquitous boulders.
The Midget ball field at the Glen is carved with deep ravines. The once-beautiful Glen looks as though a pre-historic glacier passed through, leaving a moraine of boulders along what had been sandy beaches and play areas.
Fire Chief Elwood Miller said he ordered the siren sounded o arouse people from beds at 1:15 a.m. Thursday, June 22 [1972], as creeks began to leave their banks and water ran in torrents down the streets.
The firemen and neighbors went door to door to awaken residents unaware of what was happening.
Mr. Sandra Routzahn, of 421 North Streeet, said when she looked outside, a house was floating down the street.
State Police communicators with Harrisburg failed and a car was driven to a mountain top to relay messages which did much to bring quick assistance.
Miller also, superintendent of the sewer system, went to work, wading through water, and was not able to get out of the sewage plant until Friday night.
Firemen had strung ropes from tree to tree to reach mobile homes to evacuate residents who clung to lines after being swept off their feet. He said rescuers were unable to reach the nearby treatment plant.
As the waters continued to subside in Lykens, they rose in Harrisburg.
On vacation in Utah, Lykens Borough Council President Peter McCormick flew back home to assist in organizing and supervising the cleanup.
Council established 10 committees. These involved Medical and Evacuation; Federal Aid; Water and Sewage; Police Equipment; Utilities; Labor; Frozen Food Spoilage; Buildings; Cellar Pumping; Hot Food; Equipment Repair; Clothing; Pennsylvania Power and Light Company; National Guard; and Sound Equipment.
All the chairmen were volunteers.
Also still laboring in Lykens are volunteers from Lykens and elsewhere. Mennonites are commuting daily from points in Lancaster County to Lykens. They bring a penchant for hard work and their own lunches.
Residents said the straw-hatted men and bonneted women will accept nothing, excepts perhaps a glass of water or a sandwich in return for what they believe is true service to God.
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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. Also available on Newspapers.com.
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