70 years ago this month, the biggest flood from two hurricanes wreaked death, devastation on the Lehigh Valley and beyond
The Easton-Phillipsburg free bridge is destroyed in August 1955 after Hurricane Diane. Crews set up a temporary bridge for pedestrians after the bridge was washed out. CLARENCE FELKER / CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Floodwaters race along the Broad Street business district in Tamaqua after Hurricane Diane dumped 8 inches of rain in 4 hours before 6 a.m. Aug. 18, 1955. Morning Call reporter Albert Thomas wrote the next day, “The turbulent Schuylkill River, fed by waters rushing down the mountain n the north side of the community, broke over its stone retaining walls.” He continued, “Families gathered on porches to watch the turmoil in the center of the community, suddenly found themselves faced with swirling waters.” A 42-year-old man, The Morning Call reported, was carried from his porch and into some parked cars. When found two hours later, he was dead. (Morning Call file photo)
Raging waters of the Pocono Creek pour across crushed highway bridges on Route 209 in Stroudsburg on Aug. 19, 1955, after Hurricane Diane. (AP file photo)
***** Tamaqua 200 Years 1799-1999 ***** Wake of hurricane Flood waters raced along the Broad Street business district after Hurricane Diane dumped 8 inches of rain in 4 hours before 6 a.m. on Aug. 18, 1955. Morning Call reporter Albert Thomas was to write the next day, “The turbulent Schuylkill River, fed by waters rushing down the mountain n the north side of the community, broke over its stone retaining walls.” He continued, “Families gathered on porches to watch the turmoil in the center of the community, suddenly found themselves faced with swirling waters.” A 42-year-old man, the Call reported, was carried from his porch and into some parked cars. When found two hours later, he was dead. ***** Morning Call file photo
Hurricane of 1955 Aug.. Northampton Street Bridge was split by Hurricane Diane. (The Morning Call file photo)
***** Series: Looking Back ***** Hurricane ended drought in 1955 Meteorologists say it would take a hurricane to break the drought. The same was true in 1955 when Hurricane Diane ended a yearlong dry spell. Flooding from the storm killed 67 people locally. The view is of the Jordan Creek in the 300 block of Hamilton Street. Kemmerer Paper Co. in the background is the Allentown Rescue Mission today, and water almost touches the porch roof (left foreground) of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Station. ***** Morning Call file photo
A car driven by Albert Warner of Blakeslee is destroyed after a bridge on Route 940 in Monroe County collapsed during Hurricane Diane in August 1955. Warner suffered no serious injuries (Morning Call file photo)
Floodwater from Hurricane Diane in August 1955 destroyed a road and left debris scattered in this unknown Lehigh Valley location. (Morning Call file photo)
The Northampton Street bridge in Easton is split by storm-strewn debris from the Portland covered bridge and flooding spawned by Hurricane Diane in August 1955. (Morning Call file photo)
An aerial view shows where the Interborough Bridge between Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg over the Brodhead Creek was swept away by floodwater during Hurricane Diane in August 1955. (AP file photo)
A family, possibly in Easton, dries out clothes after flooding created by Hurricane Diane receded. (Morning Call file photo)
Although flooding from Hurricane Diane was relatively minor in Allentown their was still flooding in low lying areas. This photo shows Mrs. James S. Himer, at far right, holding her 4 month old child in her arms. Others were unnamed. (MORNING CALL FILE PHOTO/TMC)
Emergency vehicles line Union Square in Phillipsburg during the early stages of flooding Aug. 19, 1955, as Hurricane Diane hit the Lehigh Valley. The second vehicle from the left was the emergency squad’s newest truck, which wasn’t even registered on this day. (Morning Call file photo)
The Northampton Street bridge in Easton is submerged Aug. 19 or 20, 1955, after Hurricane Diane. (Morning Call file photo)
Homes on Canal Street, opposite Stewart Street, near the Sts. Peter and Paul Social Club, in Northampton are flooded after Hurricane Diane hit the Lehigh Valley in August 1955. (Courtesy Northampton Area Historical Society)
Floodwater recedes from the Oberly family home at 152 Stark St. in Northampton in Aug. 1955 after Hurricane Diane hit the Lehigh Valley. It left a high-water mark at the base of the windows of the first floor. (Courtesy Northampton Area Historical Society)
Water floods the Mauser Mill, at Canal Street and Laubach Avenue in Northampton, after Hurricane Diane hit the Lehigh Valley in Aug. 1955. (Courtesy Northampton Area Historical Society)
Water rises up around the Sts. Peter and Paul Social Club at Stewart and Canal streets in Northampton after Hurricane Diane hit the Lehigh Valley in Aug. 1955. (Courtesy Northampton Area Historical Society)
Water floods Stewart Street in Northampton, looking south from 14th Street, after Hurricane Diane hit the Lehigh Valley in August 1955. This is near the lowest point in Northampton along the Lehigh River. (Courtesy Northampton Area Historical Society)
Water floods the Mauser Mill, at Canal Street and Laubach Avenue in Northampton, after Hurricane Diane hit the Lehigh Valley in Aug. 1955. (Courtesy Northampton Area Historical Society)
Floodwaters nearly reach the bottom of the the Main Street Bridge as it crosses the Hokendauqua Creek between Laubach Avenue and 10th Street in Northampton after Hurricane Diane hit the Lehigh Valley in Aug. 1955. (Courtesy Northampton Area Historical Society)
Ken “Jerry” Wyant, 86, of Plainfield Township , shows photos of the damage to his store from Hurricane Diane on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. The storm 1955 caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Ken “Jerry” Wyant, 86, of Plainfield Township, stands in front of where his store used to be with a photo after Hurricane Diane on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. The 1955 storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Ken “Jerry” Wyant, 86, of Plainfield Township, owned a store at this location seen here Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton, prior to Hurricane Diane. The 1955 storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Carol Stahley, 85, of Coopersburg, shows photos of the damage brought on by Hurricane Diane in 1955 on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Williams Township. She is standing over a bridge that crosses the Delaware Canal. The storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers, and many other smaller streams to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
A canal, seen Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton, was filled with water in the 1950s. Hurricane Diane in 1955 caused the canal to flood into homes. Now barren, the walking trails still remain. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Carol Stahley, 85, of Coopersburg, stands in front of where her home used to be with a photo the aftermath of Hurricane Diane on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. The 1955 storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Carol Stahley, 85, of Coopersburg, stands in front of where her home used to be with a photo the aftermath of Hurricane Diane on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. The 1955 storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Carol Stahley, 85, of Coopersburg, stands in front of where her home used to be with a photo the aftermath of Hurricane Diane on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. The 1955 storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
One of the original three cottages that stood during Hurricane Diane in 1955 is seen Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. The storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
A plaque reading “High water mark – Aug. 19, 1955” is displayed on the side of George Kreitz’s son’s home Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. It marks flooding that followed Hurricane Diane in 1955, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
A canal, seen Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton, was filled with water in the 1950s. Hurricane Diane in 1955 caused the canal to flood into homes. Now barren, the walking trails still remain. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
A canal, seen Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton, was filled with water in the 1950s. Hurricane Diane in 1955 caused the canal to flood into homes. Now barren, the walking trails still remain. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Carol Stahley, 85, of Coopersburg, holds a copy of the Easton Express that documents the damage from Hurricane Diane on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. The 1955 storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
George Kreitz, 84, of Easton, Ken “Jerry” Wyant, 86, of Plainfield Township, and Carol Stahley, 85, of Coopersburg, stand in front of a canal Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton, that was filled with water in the 1950s. Hurricane Diane in 1955 caused the canal to flood into homes. Now barren, the walking trails still remain. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Carol Stahley, 85, of Coopersburg, holds a copy of the Easton Express that documents the damage from Hurricane Diane on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. The 1955 storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Carol Stahley, 85, of Coopersburg, and Ken “Jerry” Wyant, 86, of Plainfield Township, share their first-hand accounts of Hurricane Diane on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. The 1955 storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Carol Stahley, 85, of Coopersburg, shows photos of the damage to her childhood home from Hurricane Diane on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. The 1955 storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Carol Stahley, 85, of Coopersburg, shows photos of the damage to her childhood home from Hurricane Diane on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. The 1955 storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Carol Stahley, 85, of Coopersburg, shows photos of the damage to her childhood home from Hurricane Diane on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. The 1955 storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Carol Stahley, 85, of Coopersburg, shows photos of the damage brought on by Hurricane Diane in 1955 on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. The storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Carol Stahley, 85, of Coopersburg, shows photos of the damage brought on by Hurricane Diane in 1955 on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. The storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Carol Stahley, 85, of Coopersburg, shows photos of the damage brought on by Hurricane Diane in 1955 on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. The storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
Carol Stahley, 85, of Coopersburg, shows photos of the damage brought on by Hurricane Diane in 1955 on Friday, July 25, 2025, in Easton. The storm caused the Delaware and Lehigh rivers to flood, damaging houses, bridges, roads and more. (Oliver Lois Economidis/The Morning Call)
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The Easton-Phillipsburg free bridge is destroyed in August 1955 after Hurricane Diane. Crews set up a temporary bridge for pedestrians after the bridge was washed out. CLARENCE FELKER / CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
