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Vol. 3 – No. 44 ♦
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The News Leader of the Pines
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FR
EE
June 29, 2019 – July 5, 2019
‘MOTHER NATURE WASN’T KIND TO US’ Nearly Continuous Rounds of Thunderstorms Drench Interior Burlco Causing Flash Flooding and Major Rancocas Creek Flood Leading to Evacuations, Significant Damage and Closures
By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
SOUTHAMPTON—When the skies opened up over interior portions of Burlington County just after 3 p.m. on June 19, the deluge just wouldn’t stop. Hour after hour went by, with cracks of thunder and vivid lightning, accompanied with heavy rain. The back building of thunderstorms led to significant flash flooding, and when it was all finally over, more than 12 hours later, over five inches of rain fell in the vicinity of Routes 38, 70 and 206, leading to a major flood of the Rancocas Creek. The situation forced Democratic Governor Phil Murphy to declare a state of emergency for Burlington County and make his first visit as an elected official to Southampton Township to tour the devastation. “We had problems all over the place,” said Southampton Township Mayor James F. Young Sr. in an interview with this newspaper after the storm. “Mother nature wasn’t kind to us.” A National Weather Service gauge for the North Branch of the Rancocas Creek at Pemberton showed that the waterway crested at 4.45 feet on June 20, falling just shy of the record set back on Aug. 29, 2011 when Hurricane Irene caused it to rise to 4.91 feet. It was the fourth major flood of the Rancocas Creek since a 2004 thunderstorm dumped more than 13 inches of rain in parts of Burlington County. “How many times have you seen this movie?” Murphy See NATURE/ Page 16
Photo By Janine Seeley
Floodwaters inundate streets and homes in the Ewansville section of Southampton Township.
Photo By Bob Ritter
Floodwaters surround homes and lead to impassible conditions on Mill Street in the Vincentown section of Southampton Township
INDEX Community........................ 10 Hobbyist............................ 17 Marketplace....................... 22 Community Calendar......... 14 Job Board.......................... 20 Opinion................................ 9 Health................................ 13 Leo the Lion Challenge....... 7 Senior Column................... 10 Here's My Card.................. 18 Local News.......................... 4 Worship Guide................... 11
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