Flood Causes Record Damage

Herald of Jan. 25, 1996

A deep snowpack, warm temperatures and two inches of rain late Thursday and early Friday, Jan. 18 and 19, caused the most serious flooding on record in the Cove area. Dozens of homes were wrecked, scores were badly damaged and hundreds had water-logged basements in low-lying areas throughout the region. Water at Williamsburg, McKee and Loysburg were higher than the levels reached during Hurricane Agnes in June of 1972. Many older residents agreed that the flood matched the St. Patrick’s Day Flood of 1936 in most areas, extensive than in either of those floods. In addition to the homes and businesses lost or damaged, hundreds of cars were ruined by the high water, roadways and shoulders were badly damaged by rushing water, even in high areas, and fields were badly eroded and littered with rocks and debris. Both Blair and Bedford counties were declared disaster areas by the state and federal governments. The water rose swiftly, giving residents little chance to move their belongings to higher ground.