Author Topic: Prayers for Pennsylvania (Read 2286 times)

Penitent · « **on:** September 08, 2011, 03:19:22 PM »

Please pray for the people of Luzerne County, PA. The flood waters continue to rise and they've had to evacuate.

This area experienced a devastating flood back in 1972. I pray they do not have to endure another one.

Elizabeth · « **Reply #1 on:** September 08, 2011, 03:53:25 PM »

Will do!

We are having serious rain for 5 straight days here, also. I heard Schyllkill (sp) County is really bad, too.

Penitent · « **Reply #2 on:** September 08, 2011, 03:57:04 PM »

This is the first real test of the new levee system. The levees were designed to hold up to 41 feet of water. They're expecting the river to crest at 40.8 ft. That's cutting it pretty close.

In the last flood, the levees didn't hold and a wall of water came raging through the valley. I hope the new levees are strong enough.

MaterDominici · « **Reply #3 on:** September 08, 2011, 04:00:41 PM »

This state burns as PA floods. :sad:

I just read that the homes lost in Bastrop County, TX due to fires is up to 1,386. That's before they allow the homeowners to return and accurately assess all damage. And the fires aren't out yet.

Matthew · « **Reply #4 on:** September 08, 2011, 04:05:59 PM »

I think this is the mini-chastisement. A warm-up, if you will.

Elizabeth · « **Reply #5 on:** September 08, 2011, 04:20:27 PM »

Quote from: Matthew

I think this is the mini-chastisement. A warm-up, if you will.

Fukushima makes that a pretty warm theory.

The wildfires scare me worse than anything--

ora pro me · « **Reply #6 on:** September 08, 2011, 06:38:29 PM »

Matthew and Mater,
I hope you are not in danger from the fires. I was listening this morning to the news about all the acres burned in Texas and said a prayer for all of you and your parishioners.

We'll pray that the angels hold the water back in Pennsylvania and take it to Texas instead!

CathMomof7 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 08, 2011, 07:16:22 PM »

Our town is underwater. Thank God that we live far enough away from both rivers that we only have about 6 inches of water in our basement. Some of our friends entire potato farm is under water. We flooded in 2006, but not this bad. Another concern is the gas drilling and fracking. We don't know yet if the frack water pools have started to run off. Many, many people are completely devastated. Some have lost everything.

We have so much and Texas has none. We are drowning and they are burning.

We all need prayers.

Elizabeth · « **Reply #8 on:** September 08, 2011, 08:55:49 PM »

I am so sorry to hear this CathMom and everyone.

Prayers and love to all.

Penitent · « **Reply #9 on:** September 08, 2011, 10:36:36 PM »

I just heard that there's a leak in the levee in Forty Fort. That's where the river broke through in 1972. There's a sharp bend in the river there so all the force of the water hits up against it. In '72, the water ate away at the embankment from underneath and exploded up through the cemetery. Bodies and caskets were scattered everywhere. It was horrific!

According to the reports, work crews are at the levee now trying to reinforce it. Those are some very brave men! Godspeed to them! The river is not expected to crest now until 8 am tomorrow morning. It is currently at 38.79 feet. The levees are 41 feet high.

Elizabeth · « **Reply #10 on:** September 08, 2011, 10:57:44 PM »

I remember hearing about that flood :scared2: (mortal remains found in trees) --I was thinking about it because there is a cemetery very close by that is badly flooded.

They called off schools and the Beltway is down to one lane. My sister's house on the river is getting wrecked,,, it's way worse in PA but MD is getting really bad now.

Penitent · « **Reply #11 on:** September 08, 2011, 11:48:35 PM »

Forty Fort is my home town. I will never forget 1972.

The current cracks in the levee are a bit downstream from the cemetery which would make a breach less gruesome but perhaps more destructive to property. There are houses right across the street.

CathMomof7 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 10, 2011, 08:18:28 AM »

The cleanup has begun here. It is totally devastating. In our own neighborhood, which is not near the river, the pressure of the water on the sewage and drainage system burst pipes in many homes, ours included.

Many of our friends and neighbors are still displaced. We still have sections of town that are evacuated due to electrical and gas concerns. The sewage treatment plant is under water.

Our friends and neighbors north of us in NY state are experiencing total devastation as well. As much as 90% of businesses were flooded.

Some people may not be able to return to what is left of their homes until Monday.

Many people here do not have flood insurance because it is either to expensive, or like us, don't live near enough to the river to warrant the cost. These people may never fully recover.

We have a tiny place called the Cannon Hole which is home to many poor people. They can't afford to replace or rebuild their homes. In some places, the code officer must approve a return to homes and they may not be allowed to go home.

We also had a large number of people who were living in tents due to the high cost of housing here. Those people are completely displaced.

It is really terrible here.

I don't know how we are going to recover from our minor damage. I can not even imagine what others with catastrophic damage must be facing.

Many people's family businesses have been damaged so greatly that they may not recover. Farms have been washed out. Our potatoes, tomatoes, and apples are all gone.

This will effect our economy is so many ways.

Please pray for us and all our neighbors.

One lesson we took away from this is the necessity to have access to a water supply and a means for purification during the Chastisement.

Hobbledehoy · « **Reply #13 on:** September 10, 2011, 10:43:48 AM »

May God have mercy upon you all and may the patronage of our Blessed Mother avail you unto all possible spiritual and temporal blessings, especially those necessary for the welfare of your families in this very difficult time.

Sigismund · « **Reply #14 on:** September 10, 2011, 06:38:17 PM »