| On August 18, 1955 hurricanes Connie and | | | | even drinking water and food had to be |
| Diane passed through the Delaware valley area | | | | brought in. Roads, where washed away and much |
| dropping over 8" of rain. Rushing water swept | | | | of the local infrastructure had to be |
| through the valley carrying with it homes, | | | | rebuilt. |
| bridges, and debris. With little warning the | | | | |
| Delaware River flooded creating havoc as a | | | | The economy suffered a major blow. Probably |
| result. | | | | one of the worst hit areas was in New Jersey. |
| | | | The local paper mill suffered damages in |
| As the river swelled it became necessary to | | | | excess of one million dollars and was closed |
| evacuate two camps located on Treasure Island | | | | for over a month while it was being repaired. |
| and Pennington Island. Five hundred children | | | | |
| from the camps had to be airlifted to safety. | | | | In the Milford area damages were estimated at |
| Fortunately there were no deaths associated | | | | one hundred and thirty two thousand dollars |
| with this disaster. Yet much damage to the | | | | and in Frenchtown the estimated damages where |
| local economy did result. | | | | thought to be almost half a million dollars. |
| | | | Businesses had to be rebuilt. Local utilities |
| The flowing river lifted up and swept away | | | | had to be brought back online and many people |
| the Byram-Point Bridge. Four homes located in | | | | had to wait to go back to work while their |
| Byram, where the water swelled to heights | | | | work places where repaired. |
| above the rooftops, were swept away. Upper | | | | |
| Black Eddy, Pennsylvania was probably the | | | | The loss of revenue and critical information |
| worst hit region in the area. Hundreds of | | | | and data was enormous, even in this |
| local residents where left homeless and over | | | | "pre-digital" time. |
| a thousand people needed the food and water | | | | |
| delivered by the Red Cross after the waters | | | | Flooding in low-lying areas has been a |
| finally receded. Even the Black Eddy post | | | | problem for many years. In some cases even |
| office was washed away. | | | | insurance companies have decided not to cover |
| | | | losses as a result of flooding, because |
| Two hundred local families had to be | | | | living in a flood zone is a matter of |
| evacuated. Local government health officials, | | | | personal choice. Despite the risks, companies |
| worried that typhoid might become a problem, | | | | need to be located in these low-lying areas |
| decided to inoculate all area residents at a | | | | either to service local populations or to |
| significant cost. Many families were totally | | | | access needed resources. The only answer is |
| uprooted by the flood and left with nothing, | | | | to be properly prepared. |