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 WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) - Emergency officials kept a close eye on the Susquehanna River early Thursday, but expressed optimism that conditions were improving and that a recently improved levee system would hold back floodwaters. The rains, which began over the weekend, have been blamed for four deaths each in Maryland and Pennsylvania, one in Virginia and three in New York.
The levees appeared to be performing exactly as intended and the Susquehanna crested at just over 34 feet — below expectations and well shy of the top of the 41-foot floodwall.
The rain-swollen river began a slow retreat at 6 p.m. Wednesday and was not expected to rise again despite overnight thunderstorms. A second crest predicted for early Thursday never materialized, leading officials to preliminarily declare victory.
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