ACCUWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines attributed the rain to several thunderstorms passing consecutively overhead. According to Kines, the worst hit areas were largely south of Lock Haven and Interstate 80.

Though meteorologists estimated the storm’s speed at around 30 miles per hour, according to Kines, wind was less of a concern during this particular storm than flooding was.

ACCUWeather radar estimates put the amount of rain between 2-4 inches in the most heavily hit areas, while the outskirts of the storm saw less than half an inch of accumulation. Several people made reports of fallen trees on roadways, vehicles and homes.

Because an exceptional amount of rain fell so quickly, individual property owners and city-owned properties all felt its effects. Like many homes in the area, the basement of City Hall flooded as well.

A local park is submerged in water following the intense downpour.

Lock Haven City Manager Greg Wilson said crews from public works, code enforcement and “some of the best equipped and trained first responders” were active well into the night to clean up debris and address emergency situations.

Flemington Goodwill Hose Fire Chief Dustin Houtz described the storm as one of the worst he has seen hit the community.

“Not only did we run more calls tonight than we do in about half a month, but we had a full house ready to help in whatever way they could,” he said in a Facebook post on Goodwill Hose Company Station 7’s page. “These folks are the true definition of a family and I couldn’t do it without them.”

Houtz specifically thanked 911 dispatchers, Citizens Hose Company No. 5, Lamar Township Volunteer Fire Company and Nittany Valley Volunteer Fire Company for assisting with emergency calls and Flemington Borough staff for their quick response.

Much of Lock Haven’s stormwater infrastructure was built more than 40 years ago, during a time when heavy rainfall events like the one from Thursday evening were less common than they are now.

Lock Haven Citizens Hose Fire Crews block off the intersection of Bellefonte Avenue and Commerce Street as volunteers worked to mitigate flash flooding that occurred on Thursday night.

The city’s sewer system covers a vast area, stretching up Route 64 into Walker Township, Centre County, and therefore collects a substantial amount of rainwater. After Thursday’s storms, the treatment plant, overseen by Sewer Superintendent Dave Sorgen, handled nearly 4 million extra gallons of water in about eight hours, on top of the usual 1.8 million gallons processed daily.

Wilson said that extreme weather events like this contribute to the need for the city to upgrade its dams. While upgrades at Ohl Reservoir in Greene Township have been completed, the focus now shifts to necessary improvements at the Keller Dam in Wayne Township.

“Stormwater infrastructure is a focus of the city’s long-term goals, having implemented a stormwater management fee like many municipalities,” said Wilson. “The city will use that fee to make improvements and upgrades to the stormwater inlets, curbs, and pipes under the ground.”

He also mentioned that, like many municipalities, the city is waiting for a decision from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on whether nonprofits and state-owned properties will be subject to the stormwater management fee as well.

“I could not be more proud of the city’s crew of foremen and their teams that came in and worked through Thursday evening into Friday afternoon to clean up as much debris as possible before the holiday weekend,” said Wilson. “As always, they did so without complaint, with a spirit of service to the community they work hard for every day.”

HUNTER SMITH/THE EXPRESS Tents previously set up for this weekends annual Labor Day Regatta were knocked down due to strong winds during Thursday night’s storm that caused flash floods throughout the area.

The Clinton County Department of Emergency Services urges anyone who experienced any storm damage to report to help assess the overall impact of the storms. Reports can be made to the Department of Emergency Services at 570-893-4090 etx. 3459 or EOC@clintoncountypa.gov. Please include as much detail as possible in your report, including photos if available.