Body of Pa. man killed by flooding is found
Jun 30, 2013, 6:49 PM
BEECH CREEK, Pa. (AP) – The body of a missing 86-year-old man swept away by rising flood waters after storms inundated central Pennsylvania has been found, authorities said Sunday.
State police said kayakers found the body of Claude Rupert on an island in Bald Eagle Creek on Saturday afternoon. Officials said the Beech Creek man was trying to retrieve an all-terrain vehicle when he was pulled into the swollen creek Thursday.
Clinton County emergency officials said about 7 inches of rain fell in a single hour Thursday in one part of the county. The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency said one home in the area was destroyed and another was left with major damage, while 14 others were also damaged. More than 30 miles of roadway were also affected by the flooding.
The storms that moved through the northeast late in the week also brought flooding to other areas, including upstate New York. An 87-year-old Fort Plain woman was still missing Sunday after her mobile home was lost to the rising waters two days earlier.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency because of flooding in 15 counties on Saturday.
In the city of Oneida, 150 homes were evacuated when Oneida Creek jumped its banks Friday. Police and firefighters continued to take people to their homes by boat Sunday to get medications and pets. Mayor Max Smith said a bus shuttle service was being set up to provide transportation for people who can’t get to their flooded vehicles.
Highway workers were busy over the weekend repairing washouts that happened Friday in Keene Valley, Jay and Johnsburg in the Adirondacks.
Parts of Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio were under flash flood warnings for at least part of Sunday.
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