Flood of 1972
One of the greatest natural disasters in Genesee Valley history took place in June 1972. Hurricane Agnes came ashore on the Florida Panhandle on June 19, and moved north through Georgia and the Carolinas. The hurricane then went out to sea, recharged its energy and hit the Southern Tier of New York State on June 22.
Although Agnes was only a category 1 hurricane, itsoon stalled over North Central Pennsylvania. Caught up in a slow moving low pressure system, the storm drifted slowly northeastward into New York State. The area, having already been soaked by showers the week before, could not absorb the six to twelve inch (305 mm) rainfall that fell over Pennsylvania and New York. Known locally as "The Flood of '72", the event would have a tremendous impact on Western New York and Letchworth Park.
Although the Genesee River and Letchworth Park was not hit as hard as the Susquehanna Valley and other areas, the impact of the Flood would be felt in the Park for many years. The Lower Falls Bridge and trail to Sugar Loaf did not officially reopen for several years. To this day, visitors can still see some of the natural "scars" left by the flood waters nearly forty years ago.
Video footage of the devastation can be viewed upon request at the Willim Pryor Letchworth Museum, located near the Glen Iris Inn. There is also a path that leads behind the Museum and up to the Council Grounds and Mary Jemison's grave site.
Read more about this topic: Letchworth State Park
Famous quotes containing the words flood of and/or flood:
“So now it is vain for the singer to burst into clamor
With the great black piano appassionato. The glamour
Of childish days is upon me, my manhood is cast
Down in the flood of remembrance, I weep like a child for the past.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)
“My ark sings in the sun
At God speeded summer’s end
And the flood flowers now.”
—Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)