Flash Flooding Strikes Northeastern Pennsylvania: Inside Luzerne County's Response

Severe flash flooding earlier this month swept across parts of Northeastern Pennsylvania, leaving communities in Luzerne, Lycoming, and Columbia counties scrambling to respond to quickly rising waters and damaged infrastructure. The deluge, which began around 2:30 a.m. on July 14, caused significant disruptions in areas such as Kingston Borough, Harveys Lake, and West Nanticoke—longtime hot spots for flooding.

Luzerne County Deputy Director of Emergency Services David Elmore joined The Spark to walk us through what unfolded that morning and how the county responded. “We started receiving reports from Butler Township, Fairmont Township, Ross Township, and parts of Wilkes-Barre City,” said Elmore. “Most of it was caused by a large amount of rain in a small period of time.”

One of the hardest-hit areas was Fairmount Township, where water overflowed from Lake Jean in Ricketts Glen State Park, surged down the mountainside, and inundated Route 118. The result: overwhelmed culverts, damaged roadways, and debris flowing into residential yards.

Despite the intensity of the flooding, widespread evacuations were largely avoided. A few residents from summer cottages in Patterson Grove required assistance when water blocked road access, but most remained safely in their homes. “It was mostly roadways affecting the flow of traffic,” Elmore said. “The water recedes fast—that’s the key. It’s flash flooding. Water comes down, and it recedes quite quickly.”

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