CAPTIMES, February 5, 1996
Flood of '96 hits home for some
PSH students and
By Chris Fegley
Contributor
Several Penn State
Harrisburg students were
affected by the area's worst
flood in 24 years
I was one of them. I am a
behavioral science major and
Harrisburg resident. On
Saturday, Jan. 20, I was evacu-
ated from my Second St. apart-
Harrisburg city police
drove by asking all residents to
leave their homes. If residents
did not have transportation,
they were instructed to wait on
the nearest corner for Capital
Area Transit buses to pick
them up. These buses were
redirected from their normal
routes to aid in the evacuation
Residents were then taken to
shelters set up by the American
Red Cross. Overall 8,000
Harrisburg residents living
from Front St. to Susquehanna
St. were asked to leave
The river was flowing
down Front St. all morning. It
carried large icebergs with it
and was moving very fast
After the police announced the
evacuation, water began to
flow onto Second St. Cars that
tried to drive through the
Traffic came to a standstill on the South Bridge (Route 83) as sight-seers
gathered to get a glimpse of the raging Susquehanna River. State Police
later cleared the area and prevented people from stopping to take a look.
MEM
When the Susquehanna River crested, it had climbed up the steps and
over walkway that lines the East shore. It continued to spilled over the
embankment that normally protects the quaint community of Shipoke.
water floated into the curb like
The River House apart-
ment building which houses
nearly 500 residents was also
evacuated. Penn State student,
Joe Mickey, public policy, was
one of those residents evacuat-
"I left my apartment
before the flood," Mickey said
"By the time I returned the
streets were filled with water,
police, ambulances and CAT
buses. Water surrounded my
building and it was cordoned
off. They tell me it may be two
weeks to a month before I can
move back in."
Water continued to spill
onto Second St. until the
Walnut St. bridge collapsed
Apparently, snow and ice
caused a dam under the
bridge, forcing water higher
and higher. When two sections
of the historical walking bridge
gave way on the West Shore
side of City Island, the flooding
Uptown began to recede
Some residents began to
return to their homes that
evening, pumping out base-
ments and turning on electric
supply boxes. Police threatened
to arrest those people unless
•
0. 3i
THE FLOOD
faculty.
they turned their power off for
safety reasons
Some residents are still
without some utilities such as
heat. Mud that filled many
basements has destroyed fur-
naces
The water service in the
Uptown Harrisburg area is still
available, because the pumping
station that serves that area
was unaffected by the flood
Other municipalities that get
water from United Water
Supply are still dry because
their pumping stations are in
the Shipoke section of
Harrisburg. Shipoke was suly.
merged under more than six-
feet of water in places, causing
extensive damage to that utility
company
Some of the students
affected by the flood are opti-
mistic
"I didn't have any books
hastily gathered several pets
with me when I left Saturday
from their home. Tilley main-
morning," Mickey said. "The
flood has caused me to fall
behind in my classes. But I love
living by the river—the incon-
veniences are only temporary
and a small price to payfor a
room with a great view."
Julia Tilley, a behav-
ioral science major, and her
F 496
The road to no where left some unlucky people
stranded in their cars as the Susquehanna River
invaded Front Street and surrounding parking
lots in the Fort Hunter area of Dauphin County.
family were evacuated from
their Green St. home the day of
the flood. She and her family
tained a positive outlook
"I was impressed by how
the community came together,"
she said
Dr. Michael Barton, associ-
ate professor of social science
and American studies, was
affected as well. A building he
owns in the Shipoke area in
PSH Professor counsels flood victims
By Ann E. Mease
Staff Reporter
Dr. Robert W. Coleman,
professor of behavioral science,
has been working closely with
the flood disaster victims, in
Harrisburg area communities
Dr. Coleman is one of the
Community Psychology advis
ers for the American Red Cross
and the Crisis Intervention
Centers. He is counseling vic-
tiros and helping to shape a
grant proposal that will meet
future needs of flood victims
When the rivers and creeks
began to flood, Dr. Coleman
worked around the clock at the
Red Cross shelter at the
William Penn campus of John
Harris High School counseling
victims of the flood
"Instead of sitting around
waiting for people to approach
me," Dr. Coleman said, "I like
to use the term aggressive
hanging out, which means
walking around talking to vic-
itms letting them know I am
here to help."
Dr. Coleman's approach is
to help the victims talk about
the positive plans for the future
and not dwell on the devasta-
tion surrounding them. While
staying at the shelters, he rec-
ommends people sleep, eat,
exercise, and hang out with
south Harrisburg was flooded
with three feet of water. Later,
the building caught fire. It was
one of five homes in the area
called "Pancake Row" to burn
Dr. Barton has been spending
much of his time salvaging
what remains of his property
after the flood
The experiences I take with
me from the flood can only
enhance the way I view things I
am studying in school—so I'm
better off in a left-handed way
friends as much as possible
The Red Cross played an
important role in the flood cri-
sis. When the flood hit, 94 shel-
tern opened statewide, housing
4,000 people at the peak of the
The local chapter is in critical
need of money and help to aid local
families who are victims of the flood.
Some of these victims are Penn State
faculty, staff, and students.
The SGA sent memos to clubs,
faculty and other organizations on
campus asking for donations.
"The response has been tremen
dous," Brooks said. "We've already
collected over $1,100."
The drive was originally sched
uled to end on Friday, Feb. 2. Brooks
said the SGA has extended the drive
by a week to try to raise even more
Red Cross volunteers were money.
disaster, according to Roger
Baumgarten, public relations
manager for the Red Cross
The organization has spent
$5 million to aid the Harrisburg
area flood victims, he said
"When there is a disaster
of this caliber, 10 to 20 percent
of the flood victims will seek
shelter, the rest will stay with
relatives and friends,"
Baumgarten said
flown in from all over the coun-
try to aid the victims. There
were over 2,000 Red Cross
workers that aided and sup-
ported the flood victims,
according to Baumgarten
The Red Cross is still
assessing the ,damage. That is
where professionals like Dr
Coleman help by contributing
to long range planning, so com-
munities will find the help they
needin case a future crisis of
this magnitude occurs
Anyone still needing help may
call the American R A Cross
Harrisburg Chapter at (717)
234-3101 for further informa-
SGA initiates Red
Cross flood relief
donation drive
By Danielle C. Hollister
Co-editor
The terrifying grasp of the icy
floodwaters was felt by many
through out the Harrisburg area.
Residents of Shipoke, the quaint
community on the east shore of the
Susquehanna river, were forced out
of their homes at 4 in the morning, as
the raging waters began to invade
their streets.
The River House Apartment
building on Front St. was evacuated
by noon the next day. Over 500 resi
dents had to find a place to stay.
Some of these people and many
others found a home at the American
Red Cross Shelter in Harrisburg. The
William Penn campus of the
Harrisburg High School was the site
of the first emergency shelter. When
classes resumed at the high school,
the shelter moved to the Mt. Olivet
Presbyterian Church on Deny St. in
the city.
One television and old army cots
in the church gym became the living
room for over 25 flood victims. No
Penn State Harrisburgstudents were
living at the shelter when we visited.
But the PSH Student
Government Assocation wants the
university to help the community
SGA has started "The Red Cross
Flood Relief Donation Drive."
"I had the idea to offer our sup
port that weekend," SGA President,
Duane Brooks, said. "But the Red
Cross beat me to it. They called us on
Monday morning to ask for our
help."
The SGA wanted to get volun
teers together to help clean houses or
provide whatever type of labor was
necessary for the Red Cross.
Unfortunately, they were unable to
get ten volunteers together, who
were available at the same time,
Brooks said.
"Because of the schedule con
flicts, we decided that the best way
we could help was to raise money for
them," Brooks said.
Donations will now be accepted
until Friday, Feb. 9. If you are inter-
ested in contributing, you can stop
by Student Activities in Room 212
with your donation
The SGA donation to the Red
Cross will be made in the name of
Penn State Harrisburg community,
SGA and clubs and organizations of
PSH.
The Red Cross is still looking for
volunteers to help families with
damage assessment, applying for
financial assistance, cleaning up
homes, unloading trucks of supplies,
and delivering Mass Care kits and
food. There is also a shortage of
blood at the PA blood bank.
The local chapter has set up
offices in the Harrisburg East Mall
Or if you want more information,
you can contact the Student
Activities Office or SGA.