NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
19 March 2003

CITY ISSUES FLOOD WATCH FOR THIS WEEKEND

Harrisburg, PA — Mayor Stephen R. Reed today said a flood watch is now in place in Harrisburg for this coming weekend.

Reed said current information indicates that the Susquehanna River may reach a flood stage of 17 feet this coming Saturday.

The current river level is 11.8 feet, which means that 179,000 cubic feet of water per second is flowing downstream. This is the result of warmer temperatures, snow melt in the northern reaches of the river basin and the mild rain of yesterday.

There is still 1 to 2 inches of water equivalent snowpack in the northern Susquehanna River Basin area. Combined with 1 to 1.5 inches of rain that may fall throughout basin areas in the next few days, the river has a good chance of getting close to or reaching flood stage on Saturday and staying at that level for a day or so.

Reed said at that level, some basements of homes and businesses in low-lying areas may get back-up water. Parking lots on City Island will get minor flooding and parking there will be banned beginning Friday evening. Minor street flooding may also occur at 17 feet but not enough to cause evacuations.

Persons living in the Shipoke neighborhood and the 3200 block of Green Street should now remove valuables and perishable items from basement areas. Further information will be issued if the river is forecast to go higher. The Mayor has ordered the city’s emergency management agency to gear up for possible flood response.

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