What comes next: Local officials, citizens struggle to recover from extensive flood devastation; residents encouraged to report infrastructure issues, damage
PHOTO PROVIDED Several representatives from local agencies will be available to meet and talk with Beech Creek, Curtin and other area township residents that have been affected by the recent flooding at the Beech Creek-Blanchard social hall, 38 Locust St., Beech Creek, on Thursday, Sept. 10, and Friday, Sept. 11.
PHOTO PROVIDED Photos from stormwater at Pole Cat Hollow Farm in Liberty Township shows aftermath of flooding from Sept. 2 and 3.
PHOTO PROVIDED Photos from stormwater at Pole Cat Hollow Farm in Liberty Township shows aftermath of flooding from Sept. 2 and 3.
PHOTO PROVIDED Photos from stormwater at Pole Cat Hollow Farm in Liberty Township shows aftermath of flooding from Sept. 2 and 3.
PHOTO PROVIDED Several representatives from local agencies will be available to meet and talk with Beech Creek, Curtin and other area township residents that have been affected by the recent flooding at the Beech Creek-Blanchard social hall, 38 Locust St., Beech Creek, on Thursday, Sept. 10, and Friday, Sept. 11.
PHOTO PROVIDED Photos from stormwater at Pole Cat Hollow Farm in Liberty Township shows aftermath of flooding from Sept. 2 and 3.
PHOTO PROVIDED Photos from stormwater at Pole Cat Hollow Farm in Liberty Township shows aftermath of flooding from Sept. 2 and 3.
PHOTO PROVIDED Photos from stormwater at Pole Cat Hollow Farm in Liberty Township shows aftermath of flooding from Sept. 2 and 3.
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BEECH CREEK -- Beech Creek Township officials continue to assess widespread damage following the severe storms and torrential rainfall that moved through Clinton County overnight Wednesday, Sept. 2, into the early morning hours of Thursday, Sept. 3.
Several intense rounds of thunderstorms produced extremely heavy rainfall across the region, with Beech Creek recording approximately 7.45 inches of rain between Sept. 2 and Sept. 3. The rainfall resulted in significant flash flooding, flooded roadways, debris, property damage and extensive impacts to local infrastructure.
In response to the severity of the storm and resulting damage, the Beech Creek Township Board of Supervisors issued a Disaster Emergency declaration on Sept. 5, 2026.
According to the declaration, the storms caused massive damage to township infrastructure, including roadways, drainage pipes, culverts and bridges. Residents of Beech Creek Township and neighboring municipalities also sustained substantial personal property damage as a result of the flooding.
Roads, bridges among hardest hit
Much of the township's initial focus is on transportation infrastructure.
Officials are assessing damage along Laurel Run Road, Little Sugar Run Road, Earon Road, Ramsey Hollow Road and Falls Road, with sections of those roads remaining closed due to significant damage.
Road crews, engineers, PennDOT, PEMA and Clinton County emergency management officials will continue working through the coming days and weeks to determine the extent of the damage, which roads can safely reopen and which locations will require more extensive repairs or reconstruction. Officials will be looking at damaged road surfaces and drainage infrastructure, as well as pipes and culverts affected in several locations. Township officials are also assessing significant damage to bridges.
Residents are reminded to obey all road closures and barricades and never attempt to drive around them. Even after floodwaters recede, roads, bridges, culverts and other infrastructure can remain damaged or unstable.
Township officials are also asking residents to refrain from sightseeing in damaged areas and to respect private property and active work zones while crews conduct inspections and begin repairs.
First, officials must document the damage and determine the scope of the repairs required. From there, the township will work to identify available funding sources and determine what assistance may be available from county, state or federal programs, according to Beech Creek Township Chairman Dennis Packer.
Once funding opportunities are identified, officials will prioritize projects based on the severity of the damage and the needs of the community.
The most immediate concerns will be addressed first, with officials determining which roads, bridges, culverts and other infrastructure need to be repaired or stabilized as quickly as possible.
Multi-agency meeting planned for residents
As the recovery effort gets underway, residents will also have an opportunity to meet with representatives from multiple agencies during a meeting planned for Thursday, Sept. 10, from 12-8 p.m., and Friday, Sept. 11, from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m., at the Beech Creek-Blanchard Fire Company social hall, 38 Locust St., Beech Creek, Pa. 16822.
The meeting will provide residents with an opportunity to discuss their concerns and needs following the flooding and hear directly from officials involved in the response and recovery.
Representatives are expected to discuss the damage-assessment process, available resources and the anticipated steps involved in rebuilding.
Residents will also have an opportunity to bring forward concerns about damaged roads, bridges, drainage systems and private property that may not yet have been identified by assessment crews.
Residents
encouraged to
report damage
Township and local officials are encouraging residents and property owners who suffered damage to document their losses and report them through the Clinton County damage reporting system.
Residents can report storm and flood damage to homes, businesses, vehicles, outbuildings and other personal or real property here: https://crisistrack.juvare.com/public/clintonPA/request.html.
Photographs, receipts, repair estimates and other documentation can help establish the extent of storm-related losses. The information gathered from residents will help local and county officials determine the overall scope of the disaster and may assist in determining eligibility for potential assistance.
The reporting process is voluntary and does not guarantee financial assistance, but documenting damage is an important part of establishing the overall impact of the disaster.
Township officials are also asking residents to report storm-related issues they believe have not yet been identified or addressed.
For residents needing additional assistance with cleanup, Crisis Relief and Recovery, a State College based non-profit, is working to assist homeowners. If you would like to request volunteer assistance for your home, please complete the form to post your case and information to Crisis Cleanup, a website that volunteer organizations use to locate homeowners in need.
Those interested can sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/8tp9kyzv
Concerns can be directed to the Beech Creek Township Office at 272-283-9134 or by email at bchtwp@comcast.net.
For urgent township-related matters, residents may contact:
-- Dennis Packer, Supervisor/Chairman: 570-502-4782
-- Willy Biddle, Supervisor/Roadmaster: 570-295-7061
-- Brad Moore, Supervisor/Vice Chairman: 570-660-1313
For emergencies, residents should call 911.
The full extent of the damage is still being determined, and assessments are expected to continue over the coming days and weeks.
For township officials, the immediate task is to understand exactly what was damaged, address the most pressing safety concerns and determine what needs to be repaired first. From there, the focus will shift toward securing funding and developing a long-term plan to rebuild the infrastructure damaged by last week's flooding.
The recovery will take time, but township officials say the process has begun -- with assessing the damage, identifying available resources and determining the community's most urgent needs.