Last week’s Photo of the Week, we were talking about the ‘Chaotic Days of March’ and now we are quickly approaching April!!  I believe we all associate April with warmer weather and colorful Spring flowers — those hardy Spring flowers that quickly keep popping up all over, creating islands of color amid the brown landscape which is also, ever so-oo slowly, turning greenish. 

Another feature of April is best described through SONG, specifically “April Showers” by Al Jolson.  The famous lines in that song include “Though April showers may come your way – They bring the Flowers that bloom in May”!! 

I don’t want to rain in on someone’s parade (pun intended) BUT, here is an OBSERVATION by Charlie: if there are enough April showers, AND, those April showers, drop enough water, you might just get a flood!! 

Which gets us right back on point, remembering the April 2005 and 1955 floods.

One thing unique about the 1955 flooding is that most of the Northeast of the United States was affected while dealing with remnants of two hurricanes within a week’s time.  The following is the Story behind the Story.

PERFECT STORM SITUATION:  The Summer of 1955 was a scorcher, hitting in the 90s nearly every day in July and August.  Worse yet, very little rain led to the earth becoming parched, reservoirs drying up, and sewers backing up with loss of water pressure.  Many counties suffered crop damage due to heat and farmers were probably praying for rain, ignoring the ole adage, “Be Careful What You Wish For.” 

After the drought came the deluge!  August 7, 2.9 inches of rain fell, but that was only the beginning! 

A pair of hurricanes followed! Hurricane Connie struck the Eastern Seaboard on Aug. 12, soaking much of the area with five inches of rain within a 24-hour period!! Less than a week later, Hurricane Diane made its way up the coast following Connie’s Path.  On August 19, Diane unleashed her wrath, causing the Delaware River to flood its banks. 

The cumulative total of the rainstorms equaled 12 inches of rain in less than 10 days!!  In all, more than 50 bridges over the Delaware River were damaged or destroyed!!

My visit to Phillipsburg was broken into four sections.  The first photos are along the P’burg waterfront, second, photos looking south off the US-22 Toll Bridge, third, tour of Easton along the waterfront and, fourth, US-22 Toll Bridge looking north at the river.

Please visit my Flickr site for your full photo tour of Phillipsburg during the April 2005 flood.

A compilation video of the ’55 flood:

Enjoy Your Open Space, Charlie Fineran