Sun-Gazette readers have been reliving the area's flooding that was unleashed a year ago from Hurricane Lee.
The three-day drenching left large pockets of devastation in Montoursville, Montgomery, Hughesville, and various smaller communities along the Lycoming and Loyalsock Creeks. Lee was a 500-year flood in the Loyalsock Creek Valley and thought to be worse than Agnes in some areas.
And Lee produced harrowing moments and heartbreaking damages to match the worst of the storms that have visited our flood-prone region: People imperiled by waters that rose much faster than expected; emergency crews and volunteers stretched to the limit from the immediate storm and the months of cleanup; roads and bridges washed away; houses and businesses destroyed.
A year later, there are still scars everywhere from Hurricane Lee and lives are not yet back to normal for many of its victims. That's easy to forget as the routine returns for most of us.
What's hard to forget is the unprecedented show of support that came from the community through donations, neighbors and strangers helping others, and an unfailing willingness to give and do.
There are some amazing stories of people and businesses recovering from the devastation. In some cases, they've forged this comeback all on their own. In many cases, they are doing it with the help of friends, family and kind-hearted strangers.
All things considered, we've come a long way in one year recovering from Hurricane Lee. We are certain lessons were learned during this tragedy that will only improve the response the next time a storm the magnitude of Hurricane Lee hits. And history tells us that, sadly, it will happen again.
Hurricane Lee weaved quite a tale: Tragedy, devastation, sadness, danger, recovery and, hopefully, a regenerated spirit and pride in the places where we live.
