State of emergency declared in Phillipsburg - UPDATE

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

Phillipsburg Mayor Harry Wyant has declared a state of emergency in Phillipsburg.

Within the past hour, the Delaware River has risen at least a foot, reaching 18 feet by 10:30 this morning. Flood stage is 22 feet at areas such as South Main Street at Sawmill Street and the lower-laying areas of Lock Street near Lopatcong Creek. The river is expected to crest by 8 a.m. Monday at 33 feet.

Wyant said several people evacuated an apartment building on Lock Street at 5:30 this morning due to heavy flooding and are being housed at the Joseph H. Firth Youth Center at Firth and Anderson streets. Additional shelters will open as necessary, Wyant said, noting the school district has given permission for the municipality to open schools as shelters.

He is urging all residents living in low-laying areas near creeks and the Delaware River to evacuate as needed.

However, the mayor said the Delaware River flooding shouldn't wreak as much havoc in Phillipsburg as it will in other area municipalities.

"It won't be major problem for Phillipsburg," he said. "There's only a couple of small areas that really flood in Phillipsburg outside of the Lopatcong Creek. As far as the Delaware River is concerned, I don't think we'll be affected greatly except for Sawmill and North Main Street. Those folks should seek higher ground."

In Easton, Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said the Bushkill Creek has flooded, and the GJ Mills apartment complex on Bushkill Drive along the creek is nearly under water.

Residents have evacuated that complex, which spans Easton, Palmer Township and Forks Township. Those folks are seeking shelter at the Salvation Army Building in the 1100 block of Northampton Street, Pinto said.

He said municipal officials and crews plan to watch the flood levels throughout the entire evening and are planning to a clean-up schedule for the next day.

"We'll be up all night barricading areas," he said.

In September 2004, the Bushkill Creek washed out the parking lot and first floor of the GJ Mills building. When the waters receded, they left behind millions of dollars in flood damage to several Northampton County properties.

In Bethlehem, the Monocacy Creek overflowed by 4 a.m. this morning and banks of Saucon Creek were reported to be significantly high near the vicinity of Schinerville Road and Route 412 in Hellertown.

An Express-Times reporter at the scene of Monocacy Creek said historic, two-story buildings in the Colonial Industrial Quarter, an area prone to frequent flooding, have flooded up to the windows. A portion of Conestoga Street by the Monocacy Creek is under water.


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