WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) -- Stretches of the swollen Susquehanna River began receding Friday after days of rainfall from what had been Tropical Storm Lee flooded communities from Virginia to New York, leading to evacuation orders for nearly 100,000 people. At least 12 deaths have been blamed on Lee and its remnants.
The damage was concentrated along the Susquehanna in Binghamton, N.Y., in Wilkes-Barre, where more than 70,000 people were told to evacuate, and other communities downstream in Maryland. The National Weather Service said the Susquehanna crested above 38 feet Thursday night in Wilkes-Barre -- below the top of the levee system and under the levels reached after historic flooding spawned by Hurricane Agnes in 1972. (30 images)
The damage was concentrated along the Susquehanna in Binghamton, N.Y., in Wilkes-Barre, where more than 70,000 people were told to evacuate, and other communities downstream in Maryland. The National Weather Service said the Susquehanna crested above 38 feet Thursday night in Wilkes-Barre -- below the top of the levee system and under the levels reached after historic flooding spawned by Hurricane Agnes in 1972. (30 images)
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The ramps from Route 42 going on and off Route 11 in Bloomsburg, Pa., just disappear into the flood water from Fishing Creek which cover Route 11 Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. Bloomsburg Press Enterprise / Jimmy May
Rob Hewitt floats in a canoe past partially flooded buildings in Port Deposit, Md., Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, as the Susquehanna River continues to rise. AP / Patrick Semansky
Mario Ortiz, walks through floodwaters next to his home Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. AP / Matt Rourke
Members of the Harrisburg River Rescue unit walk out of the water after launching a boat to take Mayor Linda Thompson to the flooded Shipoke area during flooding caused by rainfall from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, in Harrisburg, Pa. AP / Alex Brandon
People stand on the Shickshinny-Mocanaqua Bridge over the Susquehanna River watching the river level rise Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, in Shickshinny, Pa. Major and secondary routes were threatened by rising waters, particularly the Susquehanna River, which was forecast to eventually rise to 29 feet in Harrisburg on Friday, six feet above what is consider major flood stage. Bloomsburg Press Enterprise / Jimmy May
Three kayakers paddle in their boats on flood water from the Susquehanna River which covers the parking lot of the 5 Mountain Market in Shickshinny, Pa., Thursday afternoon, Sept. 8, 2011. ( Bloomsburg Press Enterprise / Jimmy May
Michael Groff pumps the water out of the basement of his home in York, Pa., Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. York Daily Record / Jason Plotkin
Vern Testerman and his wife, Cindy, look out over a flooded Rt. 616 north of York, Pa., Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. York Daily Record / Jason Plotkin
Floodwaters from the Susquehanna River partially submerge homes, Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, in West Pittston, Pa. AP / Matt Rourke
Rich McDave, Chad Bowman, Deb Bowman, and Rebecca Cummins ride out in a motorboat after helping Rob Jackson remove valuables from his deceased parents' home in Goldsboro, Pa., Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. York Daily Record / Chris Dunn
Johnny Bowman, Jr., left, and his father Johnny, Sr., walk down a flooded street in Port Deposit, Md., Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, as the Susquehanna River continues to rise. Johnny, Sr., was helping his son move belongings to an upper floor in his home before evacuating. AP / Patrick Semansky
People watch as water from the Susquehanna River continues to rise in Port Deposit, Md., Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. AP / Patrick Semansky
Airplanes sit west of the runway at the Bloomsburg Airport, in Bloomsburg, Pa., as flood water from the Susquehanna River continues to cover the airport Thursday afternoon, Sept. 8, 2011. Bloomsburg Press Enterprise / Jimmy May
The off ramp from Rt. 322 was destroyed by runoff near Bullfrog Valley Road, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011 in Middletown, Pa. The Patriot-News / Sean Simmers
Larry Gardner of Susquehanna Twp. , Pa. looks for the boat ramp on Front Street in Wormleysburg, Pa. on Thursday Sept. 8, 2011. The Patriot-News / Joe Hermitt
Amtrak workers Nathan Sutton and Robbie Grogan walk toward Harrisburg, Pa. on the Second Street ramp off of Rt. 83 after setting switches along the tracks on Thursday Sept. 8, 2011. The Patriot-News / Sean Simmers
Don Johnson of West Fairview looks at the flooding on Front and Market Streets, Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, in Harrisburg, Pa. The Patriot-News / John C. Whitehead
West Pittston Army National Guard members rescue residents from their homes in West Pittston, Pa. as the flood waters from the Susquehanna River continue to rise on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. The Citizens' Voice / Ralph Francello
Sgt. Alex Pell-Kline with the West Pittston Army National Guard rescues Tiffany Horner from her residence on Luzerne Avenue in West Pittston, Pa. which was flooded by the Susquehanna River on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. The Citizens' Voice / Ralph Francello
Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard and a police officer take a person to safety through the floodwaters from the Susquehanna River, Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, in West Pittston, Pa. AP / Matt Rourke
Floodwaters from the Susquehanna River partially submerge homes, Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, in West Pittston, Pa. AP / Matt Rourke
West Harrisburg Pike route 230, and surrounding neighborhoods in Lower Swatara Twp., Pa. are flooded from Tropical Storm Lee on Thursday Sept. 8, 2011. The Patriot-News / Christine Baker
Lower Swatara Twp. Fire Fighter Justin Chenault holds onto Ginger after rescuing her from a flooded mobile home in Lower Swatara Twp., Pa. on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. The Patriot-News / Christine Baker
Residents of Plainsville Pa. watch the flood from Courtright Street boat launch as their homes are flooded on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. The Citizens' Voice / Dave Scherbenco
John Souder views rising floodwaters, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, in Plymouth, Pa. AP / Matt Rourke
The "green bridge" spanning the Loyalsock Creek into Montoursville, Pa. is near covered with water and the train bridge behind it is damaged by flooding water Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. Williamsport Sun-Gazette / Mark Nance
Spectators defy yellow tape at the entrance of the bridge to take a closer look at the destroyed section of the "Slabtown Bridge" in Eldred Township, Lycoming County Pa. on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. Williamsport Sun-Gazette / Mark Nance
An aerial photo shows the flood waters around West Branch of the Susquehanna River and Susquehanna River merging into one in Sunbury, Pa. on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. Williamsport Sun-Gazette / Mark Nance
View of Lock-9 covered with water where the aporoach to the bridge on Route 103 that spans the Mohawk River washed away from flood waters in the Town of Glenville, N.Y., Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. AP / Hans Pennink
A large section of Route 103 on the Glenville, N.Y. side of Lock 9 collapsed into the Mohawk River due to rising flood water Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. The Daily Gazette / Peter R. Barber
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