KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette A view of Trout Run Friday, where work to replace a bridge at the community’s fire hall continues. In August of 2024, the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby left Trout Run and other communities in northern Lycoming County grappling with flooding and debris.

Damage caused by Tropical Storm Debby remains felt in Trout Run a year after the historic flooding, but so is evidence of a community in recovery.

It is a case study of a county and community that came together to help each other in a time of need. It is a continuing story, with plans for a redesigned fire station and nearly completed Route 14 bridge, along with Lewis Township engaged in stream bank stabilization.

“Although the losses were great and not everything has yet been fully restored, it was inspiring to see neighbors helping neighbors and people giving their time and talents to help in the immediate aftermath of the flooding,” said state Rep. Joe Hamm, R-Hepburn Township, serving all the state’s 84th House district.

“I will never forget the events of Aug. 9 and 10, 2024,” Hamm said.

“Standing with Trout Run Volunteer Fire Company Chief Nick Smith, fire company members, and community members on the other side of the collapsed Route 14 bridge watching whole trees, propane tanks and other debris roaring down the small tributary is a sight etched into my mind.”

Hamm said he spent the next two weeks in Trout Run every day doing what he could to help and support “our community and fire company.”

Debby, National Weather Service data showed, brought 9 inches of rain in just a few hours on the morning of Aug. 9. It caused Trout Run, a tributary flowing into Lycoming Creek, to cover the community of Trout Run in several feet of water, leading to many of those residents needing to be evacuated from their homes, some by boat.

Worse, the Trout Run Volunteer Fire Co. fire hall – constructed in the mid-1950s – which the community depends on for response to emergencies faced its own peril.

One side closest to the tributary was damaged and deemed structurally unsafe as a section of the building was punctured by a huge tree and debris floating down, and the Route 14 bridge collapsed into the raging water.

Since those early days of August 2024, Hamm said he has been working to secure funding from the state to help Trout Run Volunteer Fire Company reconstruct a new building since their previous one was severely damaged in the flood.

Redesign concepts

TRVFC is continuing to work on all aspects of the fire station rebuild, Smith said.

From holding the regular twice-a-week meetings with the construction team and fire company volunteers, to continuing work with insurance companies, to looking over proposed plans and designs drawn up by architect Anthony Visco and by Tony Komarnicki, an architect – the stage is set to present the designed version to the county for its review, Smith noted.

“I want to do it the right way. I want to keep the fire hall where it is,” Smith said. He acknowledged it is in a floodway but said it also is in a prime and centralized location to serve five townships.

TRVFC responds to fire and rescue incidents on Routes 15, 14 and to Cascade and Gamble townships, he said.

Since the flood the station has always been able to respond to incidents with apparatus running out back and two units available at a substation, Smith added.

Smith said the new station would be an ideal location for running an EMS rig from UPMC Northcentral Pa. as there is a lot of territory between Williamsport, Blossburg and Wellsboro.

Such service could be extended to parts of Tioga and Bradford counties, he said.

In the hours after the flood, Smith said TRVFC coordinated Hepburn Township Volunteer Fire Co., which served as an emergency temporary shelter.

River Valley Transit Authority provided its buses for transportation. Sheriff R. Mark Lusk and his office team remained a constant reassuring presence for residents.

It was a community commitment to ensuring lives were spared and unharmed.

Not one individual perished as a result of the flood here, a testament to a combination of swift action, selfless commitment to protecting lives, and determination to get necessities to people lacking such as food, cooked in the fire company parking lot, bottled water and water buffaloes and electricity power restored and trash removed or a return, as best as possible, to a sense of normalcy to the residents.

The one-year anniversary has given Smith an opportunity to thank once again everyone who has supported TRVFC.

The shoutouts are included to all neighboring companies and departments, all the corporations and the Marcellus Shale Coalition, Camp Susque and the area’s businesses, churches, nonprofits and, of course, local, state, and federal officials.

Because of the debris Lewis Township continues to clean out and stabilize many of the streams in their community.

“It is our hope the maintenance work in these streams will prevent the type of devastation we saw last year if we ever receive a similar storm to Tropical Storm Debby,” Hamm said.

The replaced bridge

Hamm spent many hours on the phone with the state Department of Transportation PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, and the Department of Environmental Protection and other state agencies advocating for the people of Trout Run.

Hamm hosted several town hall meetings for the residents, including one with PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll.

“This is Trout Run’s I-95,” Carroll said, a reference to the swift rebuilding of the interstate in Philadelphia where the overpass collapsed due to a tanker truck explosion at the Cottman Avenue exit.

The Route 14 Trout Run bridge replacement project was let on March 13. said Maggie Baker, community relations coordinator with PennDOT District 3 in Montoursville.

Rylind Construction Company, Inc. is the prime contractor for this $3.3 million bridge replacement project.

Work on this project began on April 28. To date ,the contractor has installed sheet piles between the buildings and the bridge construction site, which provides temporary support during excavation work. The contractor has completed the drilling and installing the foundation piles into bedrock for both footers, completed construction of the north side abutment and wings and is currently working on the construction of the south side abutment and wings.

The contractor is currently on schedule to complete the new structure, the associated streambank stabilization and armoring and the new approach roadway by November.

Looking ahead

The storm rearranged the course of parts of Little Pine Creek, Larrys Creek and Lycoming Creek – some of these areas which show those scars to this day.

Flooding from Debby led to a federally declared disaster relief and assistance available to applicants through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Debby’s fury left some roads that remain washed away and properties repaired and made unrepairable from the loss.

As the chance of another flood always looms, Hamm remarked on the residents’ resiliency.

“The people of Trout Run, Salladasburg, English Center, Westfield, and everywhere else affected by Tropical Storm Debby are some of the most resilient people I have ever met,” Hamm said.

“They rolled up their sleeves, got to work, and rebuilt their communities,” he said.

“I will continue to do everything within my power as a state representative to make sure our communities fully recover and thrive well into the future.”