UPPER MT. BETHEL TWP. — Ed Nelson set out Tuesday in an old work truck to scout out damage from the weekend's flash flooding, and oversee efforts to clean it up.
A major problem, according to Nelson, who is Upper Mount Bethel's township manager: drainage systems that are blocked by fallen trees and other plants, such as cornstalks, that get stuck in the pipes and cause flooding.
- Northampton County is assessing damages in hopes of getting state and federal aid
- The county and nine municipalities are reporting damages to roads, bridges, parks and infrastructure
- Residents should report their property damage to local municipal officials, according to the county
“That is some of our problem,” he said in his old burgundy truck with a CB radio blaring. “And there’s no solution.”
Northampton County officials are continuing to assess the aftermath of Sunday's flash flooding, with at least nine municipalities plus the county reporting damages to infrastructure, roads or public parks.
More than 4 inches of rain fell in parts of eastern Northampton Countyin just a few hours.
The county's northern tier was hit hard. Four Slate Belt municipalities have enacted disaster declarations — Bangor, Lower Mount Bethel Township, Plainfield Township and Washington Township.
County officials are warning drivers to exercise caution because some roads are still flooded or damaged. Folks should avoid trying to drive through flooded areas or over closed bridges.
Reporting damage
Residents and business owners affected by flooding are being asked to report issues to the local municipal officials, who will in turn report damages to Northampton County Emergency Management Services (NCEMS).
That's significant because the volume and extent of damages can play a factor in the amount of state or federal aid delivered.
“It just takes everything here. And so it gets out on the road, and it just washes across -– the water is very forceful.”Ed Nelson, Upper Mount Bethel Township manager
Anyone unable to contact municipal officials should call NCEMS at 610-746-3194 x3228. The county intends to send detailed damage reports to both the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Like many municipalities, in Upper Mount Bethel, the cleanup falls to the township's public works crew — many of them students working a summer job. They have been traveling from spot to spot, patching up trenches and re-routing the water for future floods, so it flows into a creek instead of in the middle of an intersection.
Upper Mount Bethel covers a wide area and has about 7,000 residents.
“We got our hands full,” said Lindsey Manzi, crew chief in charge of the township's public works department. “We got a lot of roads, a lot of damage, and, you know, with a small crew, we're doing the best we can.
"It's a challenge. But we'll get there.”
Some of the damage in Upper Mount Bethel doesn't necessarily look like damage on first glance. The creeks are often flanked with what look like cliffs, some of them with short waterfalls streaming into them.
But what appear to be small waterfalls are new — caused by erosion from Sunday's swift flooding.
The woods surrounding some creeks have giant chunks missing, and some happen to be in people’s back yards.
Pointing to a giant rock – about the size of an 18-wheeler's tire, Nelson said, “the water was enough to move that size of rock down the road.”
It traveled several yards and landed on a drain pipe.
“It just takes everything here,” Nelson said. “And so it gets out on the road, and it just washes across — the water is very forceful.”
County compiling report
Northampton County has reported damage to county-owned bridges because of Sunday's flooding. As of Tuesday, municipalities that have reported damage and are providing preliminary assessments include:
- Bangor, Forks Township, Plainfield Township, and Washington Township with infrastructure and road issues;
- East Bangor and Lower Mount Bethel Township, which both have road damages;
- Stockertown has reported recreational trail and park issues;
- Tatamy reported municipal park damages, and;
- Palmer Township (unspecified damages).
The county says NCEMS has also received reports of residential damages from about 10 municipalities as of Tuesday.
A Crisis Clean-Up Hotline –- which is not connected to any local, county, state, or federal agency –- has also been established to connect affected individuals with information and possible assistance, and it can be reached at 844-965-1386, according to the county.
Sunday's flooding overwhelmed creeks and streams, especially in the Easton area and the Slate Belt.
The Delaware River at Easton reached a peak of 13.39 feet on Sunday morning, far from a flood stage, which begins at 22 feet, or even an action stage, which starts at 20 feet.
The Lehigh River at Glendon peaked at 13.45 feet on Sunday morning, falling short of the action stage at 16 feet and the flood stage at 19 feet.
Heavy rain pounded communities in short time. Nazareth received 4.63 inches of rain by Monday afternoon, Easton saw 4 inches by early Monday evening and Bethlehem topped out at 2.55 inches Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
