An Orange Roof Gleaming
in the flood? A minimal hurricane, Agnes
was the first of the 1972 storm season. First striking the Florida
Panhandle it weakened moving across the Southeast before regaining
tropical storm strength and merging with a non-tropical system.
Although its initial impact was relatively weak it was the convergence
of the storm with the temperate weather system that wreaked
havoc in the Northeast and remains to date the most costly natural
disaster in Pennsylvania's history.
As
much as 19 inches of rain fell in some areas during a two day
period on already saturated ground. Coupled with the terrain
of central Pennsylvania, the situation spelled disaster for
low lying valley areas. Among several rivers, the Susquehanna
was no exception to the devastating flooding. In Harrisburg,
not only did the HoJo's flood, but also everything that was
built along the river including the governor's mansion where
Gov. Shapp and his wife were evacuated by boat from the inundation!