CARA MORNINGSTAR/Sun-Gazette Augustus “Bud” Thomas speaks during the Grafius Run Flood Mitigation Project meeting at the Trade and Transit Centre II in Williamsport on Thursday.

CARA MORNINGSTAR/Sun-Gazette
Jim Caldwell, project manager, speaks during the Grafius Run Flood Mitigation Project meeting at the Trade and Transit Centre II in Williamsport on Thursday.

On Thursday night, flood-weary city residents, about 46 in all, told engineers from RETTEW their stories of getting water, mud and silt in their homes. They gathered at the Michael Ross Room in the Trade and Transit Centre II for an initial public meeting — one of three scheduled.

Even before James Caldwell, RETTEW project manager, discussed the purpose of the first meeting — to describe efforts to recapture overflow of water caused by rain and trapped debris in the run — residents sounded off.

“This goes back more than 42 years,” said Augustus “Bud” Thomas, of 1608 Elmira St., recalling the damage caused by Hurricane Agnes in June 1972. He carried a file, including newspaper clippings 3 inches thick, of flooding events since 2011.

“Nothing much has been done, except the backhoe operating that cleans the grates, but once the operator was from Montoursville, and once the machine was not working,” Thomas said. “There’s not a solution yet.”

He said he’s since purchased a sump pump that has worked. The water runs into the street, into the sewer line and into the basement. Once, though, the pump stopped, he said.

Caldwell interjected by saying engineers are exploring how to control the amount of debris that

can clog the entry points at the two trash grates along Highland Terrace. Clear grates force more water into the culverts, which are underground channels that shuttle the water out to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, but not

before it meanders through the city and zig zags over to the East End of the Central Business District.

That’s where the nuns at St. Anthony’s Center, 125 E. Willow St., told Laura Templeton, RETTEW regional manager, and Douglas Keith, executive director of the Williamsport Municipal Water and Sanitary Authority, how the most recent flood caused water to shoot up through a drain and sewage to get into the facility.

The women said they lost their insurance coverage because of the water damage and are unable to operate a free clinic to help the neediest in the community.

They wondered if Grafius Run was to blame, and claimed the problem has gone on for 37 years.

Rocky Caringi, of the 1400 block of Elmira Street, was hopeful but also related horror stories. He said he recently had to schedule replacement of up to $10,000 worth of home items, including appliances such as an electric stove, washers, dryers and refrigerator.

Standing by his side was Mayor Gabriel J. Campana, who promised the engineers would find solutions.

But the most recent issues seem to be related to the force of water heading into the culverts and sometimes spilling over the banks.

It has been more intense since 2011, residents said. They said that they’ve also had to deal with the after-effects of flooding, such as caked mud, dirt, silt and mold.

One man living at 1215 Market St. said it took him up to four days to clean out his residence.

Citizens were particularly concerned about a lack of curbing in the flood-prone areas. Many said they are very concerned to witness water flowing south down an alley in between Market and Elmira streets.

When that happens, residents see more heavy flooding, according to Gerry Fausnaught, a former city councilwoman. She said she is happy that engineers finally are addressing the problem of Grafius Run and its impact on the city neighborhoods near it.

Examples of proactive steps were given too.

One of them was shared by Pat Ritter, who has lived at 1120 Cherry St. for 35 years and who said the run goes right beneath his fence.

“It can be expected,” Ritter said of the occasional flood, particularly when heavy rains hit areas to the north, where the run begins in Loyalsock Township.

Ritter said he’s done what he can: Buy a ShopVac, move his washer and dryer up about 4 feet off the ground floor and work closely with the city’s general manager of its streets and parks office.

Tom Cillo, that manager, said he will check Ritter’s property to see if the culvert there is positioned correctly.

Ritter has suggested a holding pond be installed.

City officials said they are doing what they can to battle the natural disasters.

A picker machine parked along Bloomingrove Road is checked for maintenance issues once a month, said Adam Winder, assistant general manager of the city Streets and Parks Department.

Caldwell, meanwhile, said this is the first step — getting first-hand information from residents.

The firm will collect this information and put it into the plan of action.

Officials working on the problem include the city engineer Rebecca Haladay, Campana, City Council and its public works committee and public safety committee, Loyalsock Township, Lycoming County, the county Conservation District and the state Department of Environmental Protection.

“We are going to design debris control,” Caldwell said. Engineers then will design ways to increase water capture in culverts.

The next two meetings will be advertised in the Sun-Gazette, and notices and fliers will be distributed when the meetings are scheduled, he said. He did not elaborate.