I can't believe I'm writing this, seeing pics of this on the web. My community college back in Reading, PA (RACC) is flooded. The Schuylkill River was dammed many years ago and a terrific recreation area was created by the Army Corps of Engineers to help prevent floods like this from happening. The river is very shallow and far below the banks.

The main building used to be a Holiday Inn and all the land was donated, along with the building, to the newly formed Reading Area Community College about 20 years ago. Not since Hurricane Agnes (1972) has the area seen such devestation! And so all the other buildings were built on "stilts" so the first floor is high above the ground. And with the dam, this kind of flooding was never, ever supposed to happen.

But today, the buildings are flooded out. My computer lab, on the "first" floor of a building on stilts is now just slightly above the water line. Michael called me a little while ago to tell me he was riding on the Penn Street Bridge overlooking the college and couldn't believe how bad it was.

I went to some local websites:
www.wfmz.com
www.readingeagle.com

and saw the pictures of the college.. I'm feeling lousy right now. I have so many friends there. Corey's gym is most likely under water, so I don't know if she even has a job this summer. The first 3 floors of the main building (the old motel) are all administrative so students' classes wouldn't be in danger of flood damage. But now their website's been down since yesterday and having worked there for 7 years, I can only imagine how horribly damaged the offices are. Then there's the brand new PAC/Theater and Tech School they just finished building.

Please pray for everyone in ALL the flooded areas, not just RACC. This is such a horrible feeling... I am so sad right now.

Thanks,
Terrie

Terrie,

I'm in Harmony NJ and have been watching the water rise all day. I can't believe that this is happening again. We've had floods the past couple of years. Some people along the river just finished rebuilding after the last one. Thankfully I live on a hill and am dry.

I'm watching downtown Easton on the news now, it's under water. The Schuylkill is starting to recede but the Delaware hasn't crested yet. 200,000 people were evacuated in Wilkes Barre. The Susquehanna River is supposed to crest tomorrow in that area.

I hope everyone gets out safely.

Terrie, I was thinking of you and your moving.

Seems you got out just in time?

How do you like your new locale?

I love it here. Michael called a few minutes ago to give me the "daily report" and said he and his dad were bike riding in that area and that RACC is full of mud, but the water's down to about 2' below the banks now (normally it's only knee deep, about 12' below the banks).

I wish I were there to help with the cleanup, tho. And we don't know yet if the gym got any damage, in which case my daughter might not have a job this summer.

We got some major flooding here in the desert this week. It has rained every night since Sunday and it comes down so hard and fast that the parched ground can't absorb it, so it runs off into the arroyos and then floods the next area downstream. Roads are still a mess with mud and debris. We had major hail on Tuesday night. And the rain smells so good out here!

So sorry to hear about the floods there. I wondered if any blunderites were in the way of the floods. Prayers just said for them...

We've had major flooding here in the Binghamton area. We're fine, but so many people I work with have lost everything. Most of them didn't have flood insurance because it flooded in places that it's never flooded before. My daughter, Tara, is fine also because they live on a hill, but they were stuck on that hill for a couple of days. They lost their power on Wednesday and don't expect it back until next Wednesday - the electrical substation is still under feet of floodwater. My company was closed - as most were - for 2 days while we were in a state of emergency, so I just went back today, but not my normal route as many roads are still flooded.

A culvert under I-88 failed about 20 miles to the north of us and a 25 foot gap opened up across all 4 lines. Two tractor trailer drivers died when they trucks went into the crevice. One was coming one way, one the other. They've had multiple gas line explosions in one area and one of the homes blew off it's foundation and was filmed floating down the river. That whole village is completely underwater and other small towns in the area are like islands. The saving grace for large parts of Binghamton were the flood walls built years ago after a huge flood. They held with only a few leaks, and some water coming over the tops. As bad as it was and still is, I can't imagine how horrific it would have been without them.

It's just all so sad...

Deb, good to see you again. What a horrible experience your town is having. Glad you're ok.

Deb, I posted on the other site.

Glad you're okay. More prayers just said for those in the area. So sad...

Hi Terrie - My inlaws are coming here tomorrow - remember they're from Reading (Oley)? I'm SURE my father-in-law has been on top of ALL of this - as well as my sister-in-law who lives in Kutztown (and teaches at KSU). I'll get some info from them when they're here and let ya know what I fiind out. Sounds horrible!!