Evening star., 1940-04-03
Pennsylvania Flood
Area Fears Disease
As Waters Recede
Thousands Return Home
On l50-MiIe Stretch
Of Susquehonno
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
W1LKES-BARRE, Pa, April g.
The threat of disease-dread AFTER
math Of disastrous floods ds-stalked
weary riverside communities in
Eastern Pennsylvania today as high
waters subsided and the first of
thousands of refugees began re-
turning home.
Only forecast of more rain tenn
pered "worst-is-over" feeling that
prevailed along a l50-mile stretch
Of the Susquehanna River, where
at least 10000 persons were driven
to higher ground by a three-day
assault of turbulent waters.
Recession Is General.
The streams recession was gen.
eral from its headwaters in New
York State south to Chesapeake
Bay. At the two hardest-hit areas
-Wilkes-Barre and Sunbury, IS
miles downstream-the river crested
and 6 feet, respectively below high
marks of the destructive 1886 flood.
Flood waters still barred motor
traffic from approaches to all but
two OF eight bridges spanning the
Susquehanna in and near Wilkes
Barre. Both open bridges are up
stream at Pittston. The Plymouth
Wilkes-Barre Bridge, damaged yes
terday, was tilted. Seven sections
sagged into the water.
Meanwhile, across the river in
Kingston, one gallon gasoline
tank was toppled by the current.
Flremen said the danger that the
gasoline might become ignited
passed within an hour.
Three Children Stricken.
With the start of a backbone"
movement, authorities launched the
mammoth task of cleaning up and
prepared to combat any possible
epidemics. Three refugee children
were stricken with scarlet fever yes
terday.
A center for such patients will
be established at nearby Nanti-
choke. A pool of typhoid fever vac
cine was set up here for necessary
lnnoculations and the State De-
partment Of Health sent a motor
lied laboratory to travel up and
down the flood area to test drink
ing water.
National Work Projects Admins
tration officials were asked to pro-
vide SO tons of chloride of lime for
disinfecting use.
Red Cross Asks 100000.
The national Red Cross set $780,
900 as the goal of its drive to re-
habilitate the devastated Wyoming
Valley. In addition. the w. P. A.,
which earlier allotted 100000 for
dixie and levee strengthening. ear
marked s45.0o0 for cleanup work.
To speed delivery of food and
medical supplies to striken towns,
the Pennsylvania Motor Truck As
ISOLATION placed 80 1000 trucks at the
disposal of the Red Cross.
Property damage was extensive
but less than that wrought by the
1886 flood. chiefly as result of
better preparedness. T. M. B. Hicks,
jr.. industrial commissioner of the
Wyoming Valley Chamber OF Com
merce. estimated the loss at "a
few hundred thousand-consider
ably less than a million"
Two Gasoline Tanks Burst.
A new hazard in section OF
South Wilkes-Barre, where the flood
water was deepest. was created early
today when two 8,000-gallon gaso-
line tanks popped up out Of the
loosened earth and burst. Fuel was
scattered over the water.
A detail of National Guardsmen
was dispatched to the area immedi-
ately in boats to warn residents In
a few still-inhabited houses to
guard against starting fires.
The section is across the, river
from Kingston, where an explosion
OF tanks Monday spread 100000 GAL
ions of flaming gasoline over the
swollen waters.