The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA

Fri, May 09 2008

Faces of the Flood

Faces of the Flood: Mother lost husband, two young sons

A few of their toys remained, stuck in the thick mud left behind by raging floodwaters.
But Beverly Platt’s two young boys were gone, as was her husband and most of her home – all swept away in a deluge that left the family no chance to escape from their Dale Borough home.
....more>>

Improved communication aids responders
Time line of terror: July 19-20, 1977
Faces of the Flood: ‘You always have those memories’
Faces of the Flood: Letter from governor bolstered mayor during recovery
Faces of the Flood: ‘Show me the way out’
'I don't worry anymore'
Faces of the Flood: ‘Good people stepped up to the plate’
Faces of the Flood: Some victims were never found
Faces of the Flood: ‘The flood just swept her away’
Faces of the Flood: ‘Never underestimate the social network’
Faces of the Flood: Business was born in midst of disaster
Faces of the Flood: 'The ministry of presence'
'We just did what we could to help'
Faces of the Flood: ‘We saw things that few others saw’
Faces of the Flood: ‘We would have been dead’
Faces of the Flood: 'Things you'll never forget'
Faces of the Flood: 'They wanted to rebuild. This is their home'
Ed Cernic Sr. had been warned that he should not expect much time with President Jimmy Carter.
But in the aftermath of the 1977 Johnstown Flood, the West Taylor Township resident traveled to Washington, D.C., with hopes of landing federal aid for local businesses.
He got the answer he was looking for.
Faces of the Flood: '100-year flood protection'
‘It was a miracle’
1977 Flood devastated local economy
Bantly Hardware rebuilt after catastrophe
‘How much I miss her’
Faces of the Flood: ‘We were ready to operate’
Faces of the Flood: Former star athlete recalls ‘so much mud’
Faces of the Flood: Selling ‘sunshine’ to rebuild community pride
Faces of the Flood: ‘I’ll never forget the thunder and the lightning’
What started as a relaxing evening for a Hornerstown family watching a ballgame ended with them fleeing their home as it was surrounded by swift-moving flood waters.
Faces of the Flood: 'We just took it upon ourselves'
Jim Kist wasn't caught in raging waters during Johnstown's 1977 flood, and he didn't handle any harrowing rescues.
But his story is a light-hearted snapshot of the dedication of local residents who pitched in - whether they were asked to do so or not.
It started with a broken muffler.
Faces of the Flood: 'I didn't know if I was going to make it'
When the fire call came in, Edward Zablotney, a pharmacist by day, climbed into the engine and headed out with other Windber firefighters to a vacant home struck by lightning.
Faces of the Flood: 'Nothing like I'd ever seen in my life'
In the early morning darkness of July 20, 1977, Ray McCombie and the rest of his ambulance crew turned onto Route 56 and headed toward Johnstown.
They were well aware that heavy rain had been pouring down for most of the night.
But they were not yet aware that Johnstown had been hit by a major flood that would claim 85 lives and ravage communities across the region.
Faces of the Flood: 'We're not leaving here'
Edna Mae Cook prayed while her two youngest children sang hymns. In another bedroom at the family's South Fork home, Wayne Cook could only watch as rushing floodwaters and tumbling debris pummeled his home.
Faces of the Flood: 'Trying to help our fellow neighbor'
In the days and weeks after the 1977 flood, Bruce Becker saw Mount Calvary Lutheran Church transformed into what some churchgoers would call "the hands and feet of Jesus" - a hub for hard-working disaster assistance.
Faces of the Flood: ‘My safest place is up on the roof’
Faces of the Flood: ‘It’s tough to survive’
Faces of the Flood: Called into action, ‘I just did it’
Faces of the Flood: Wounds 'never will completely heal'
Faces of the Flood: ‘All I was thinking was hanging on to that tree’
Faces of the Flood: ‘You were there when people needed you’
Faces of the Flood: 'The water kept coming'

What is this?

Sports

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• Three area schools atop District 6 playoff seedings
• McCort grad recognized by D-II
• St. Francis taking a swing at NEC
• Local sports briefs 5/9

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• Out & About | Fit as a fiddle
• 'Fantastic' performance | Arcadia books Elton John impersonator
• Altoona theater will announce Isaac Award winners June 1

Multimedia

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