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<br />The Erratic Route of Hurricane Agnes
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<br />The U.S. Eastern Seaboard received an unexpected and
<br />thoroughly unwelcome Father's Day (June lB) gift. The lethal
<br />lady was born as a hurricane that weekend over the Gulf Coast,
<br />whipping through Cuba and Florida, killing 16 persons and
<br />causing an estimated $25-million in damage there. It moved
<br />inland and seemed, the early part 01 the week, to have lost its
<br />energy.
<br />But on Wednesday, June 21, Agnes veered toward the coast
<br />of the Carolinas and then moved north along the Atlantic
<br />seaboard with renewed force. Size aided its destruction. More
<br />than 250 miles in diameter and heavily laden with moisture,
<br />Agnes dropped enormous quantities of water on terrain already
<br />saturated by a week's downpour.
<br />Hurricane Agnes lashed areas of Georgia and South Carolina
<br />on Monday, June '19, and North Carolina the following day.
<br />Parts of Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey caught her fury on
<br />Wednesday, June 21, then she slammed into lower Connecticut,
<br />New Jersey and seaboard New York on Thursday.
<br />Her path took her over New York City Thursday evening.
<br />From there she headed up the Hudson to Poughkeepsie and
<br />then unexpectedly turned west, passing Over Ringhamton and
<br />swinging down to the New York-Pennsylvania border.
<br />Early Friday, it met with another storm, caused by a cold front
<br />sweeping down from Canada. The storm's future course then
<br />seemed to taper off to the northeast and expire over New
<br />England.
<br />Hurricane Agnes widened her destruction Friday and Saturday
<br />as cresting rivers spilled over banks, broke through dikes and
<br />inundated cities in upstate New York.
<br />President Nixon by Saturday declared five states to be disaster
<br />areas-Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia
<br />-making them eligible for Federal lunds in relief and recovery
<br />efforts.
<br />Tens of thousands had been forced to flee their homes in the
<br />lowland river basins of the Susquehanna, the Allegheny, the
<br />Chemung, the Monongahela, the Ohio and the James.
<br />Flood waters continued to recede in the Northeast on Monday
<br />and Tuesday, June 26 and 27.
<br />Tropical Storm Agnes in a week of wind and deluge left at
<br />least 132 persons dead. Damage in the states affected was
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<br />4
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<br />estimated at $1.63-billion.
<br />Damage to industry was severe. Among plants whose
<br />production was curtailed or Slopped completely were the
<br />Ingersoll-Rand facilities in Alhens, Pa., and Painted Post, N.Y.;
<br />Bethlehem Steel in Steelton, Pa.; Phoenix Steel in Phoenixville,
<br />Pa.; Corning Glass in Corning, N.Y., and Hammermill Paper in
<br />l.ock Haven, Pa.
<br />Voluntary agencies launched extensive flood-relief activities.
<br />Their efforts had to he astronomic in personnel and finances.
<br />A survey of flood conditions as walers receded in some of the
<br />states follows.
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<br />I'FN NSYLV/\,\I 1/\
<br />While the Susquehanna River dropped below flood level in
<br />\Vilkl's-Barre and the city began 10 dry out, destruclion was
<br />extensive. Telephone service vvas out in a 12-rnile radius, few
<br />houses had waler, roads were crowded with rescue workers and
<br />refugees. Severely damaged Wilkes-Barre was reporled to have
<br />had only t\VO flood insurance policies.
<br />Some 100,000 people were in temporary shelters. More than
<br />20,000 typhoid shots had to be given at the refugee center at
<br />Pocono Dovvns Race Track.
<br />In Ilarrisburg, which seemed to have suffered perhaps the
<br />mas! furious blows, 8,500 remained in temporary shelters and
<br />many vvere without drinking W<lter.
<br />President Richard M. Nixon personally viewed the severe
<br />dev<lstation in Harrisburg and surroundings and announced the
<br />estahlishment of a federal office there 10 work with the state
<br />aulhorities on a recovery program.
<br />Unlike Flort'ncc, Italy, ^rnerica was able La avoid astronomic
<br />and perhaps irreversible losses by flood to its indigenous art.
<br />Brandywine Creek crested at a record 16V2 feet at Chadds
<br />Ford, Pa., and its waters poured into the lirst floor of a museum
<br />there housing priceless Wyeth paintings. About $2.5 million
<br />worth of N. C. Wyeth paintings were moved to safety on opper
<br />floors.
<br />A spokesman said: "We saw fish and frogs swimming by
<br />outside the museum \vinuows,"
<br />More than 5'1 persons died in the state as a resull of the flood.
<br />Officials estimated the damages in Pennsylvania at $1.25-billion.
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