Easton's GJ Mills Apartments evacuated as Bushkill Creek floods

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

Along the Bushkill Creek, authorities shut down a stretch of Bushkill Drive and evacuated the GJ Mills Apartments in Easton as the water roiled and rose rapidly.

A waist-deep torrent rushed through the parking lot and flooded the apartment building lobby. Most residents had moved their vehicles across the creek to higher ground the night before.

Keith and Erin Arden fled their third-floor apartment after fire officials urged folks to evacuate about 7:30 this morning. Some chose to stay and could be seen in the windows as muddy water surrounded the converted creekside mill.

The Ardens and their 2-year-old son stayed with family on College Hill. They were taking their flight in stride.

"I grew up on Long Island, so I'm used to flooding," said Keith Arden, a crane operator who has lived in the apartments for three years.

"We were afraid it would get to the point we couldn't leave. Now we're sorry we left because we don't know when we're going to get back in."

Residents who returned to the complex late this morning to view the flooding said apartment personnel tried sand-bagging parts of the building this morning, but it was too little too late.

Bushkill Drive was closed between Penn Pump Park and Mill Race Park in Palmer Township, both of which were under water.


http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2011/08/eastons_gj_mills_apartments_ev.html