This summer marked the 50th anniversary of Hurricane Agnes, the flooding of the Susquehanna River and the destruction of Wyoming Valley. To show support for the Wilkes community amidst the anniversary, a screening of the documentary “Agnes” was held on campus.
Those who went through the flood slowly started entering the ballroom, picking up a beverage of their choice with a bag of popcorn. As they filled the vacant seats, President Greg Cant and Alan Stout, one of the three producers, writers and narrators for the documentary, went around the room and greeted everyone individually, thanking them for being able to come.
At around 7 p.m., Greg Cant spoke to the Wilkes community.
“The story of Hurricane Agnes and its impact it had on Wyoming Valley can be seen in the small posterboards placed throughout the campus. Since arriving in Wilkes, I’ve witnessed and heard about the resilience and strength this community has built after the devastation of Agnes. Not just throughout all of Wyoming Valley, but just on this campus alone,” Cant said.
Hurricane Agnes affected the Wyoming Valley from June 14 to July 6, 1972. As Agnes made its way north from Florida, its arrival in Pennsylvania was met with heavy amounts of rain, with most of the rain deposit landing in the Wyoming Valley. As the Susquehanna River continued to fill and fill, the Governor and the people of Luzerne County noticed the imminent danger of rising water levels.
The levees that were in place were set to control the water level at a certain maximum level. The overflowing river broke that limit resulting in the levees not working, leaving the dikes to be the last defense.
This resulted in sandbagging. All members of the community, from teens to the elderly, created barriers of sand and dirt to help add two to three feet of a wall so that the water would not overflow if the dikes did not work.
It took one day of sandbagging until the governor sent out an evacuation order to all residents of Wyoming Valley and rang the sirens to commence the evacuation.
“Well, actually, the strength of the Wilkes community (and also the King’s community) was made apparent at the dike along the River Common by the Darte that day (and in the many hours preceding the river’s breach),” said Chuck Slavish, Wilkes alum and resident during Hurricane Agnes. “It was mostly all college students, those who stayed for the summer, or who were from here, or home for the summer, and lived in the neighborhoods surrounding the universities, that put forth that superhuman sandbagging effort.”
All buildings were flooded with 60-feet of water with gas pipes exposed, causing fires. Firefighters were unable to reach them.
It took months for the community to get government funding and back to the way things were, but the community always stayed strong and helped each other to rebuild Wyoming Valley into a new, better community.
Alan Stout, one of the three producers, writers and narrators for the documentary, was present at the screening. He shared with the audience and his fellow community how much this film meant to him, as he was only 5 years old when this event took place.
Stout remembers how his grandmother had her house destroyed, but he does not have any vivid memories of what was happening in the world and especially to Wilkes-Barre.
“I wanted this film to capture the flood as the main character, but to also have the people of Wyoming Valley be the heroes,” said Stout.
The idea for this documentary began on the 40th anniversary of Hurricane Agnes. He bought books about floods for his children and looking through these images of floods gave him the idea of finding as much information as possible about Hurricane Agnes. Whether it was interviews, images, news broadcasts or articles, he was interested in making a documentary or “collage” about the nation’s coverage and local stories of what Agnes did to Wyoming Valley.
“I want this film to be a tribute to the people of our community who experienced this devastating event; I want them to feel honored,” said Stout.
Helen Ralston and her son, Tom Ralston, made appearances at the event as well.
Helen Ralston shared the story of her love and marriage with her husband, George. George and Helen Ralston were married for about 51 years and in their long, happy marriage, they contributed their talents to the university’s community.
George worked and helped Wilkes University for 50 to 60 years, while also creating and becoming head of the athletics program and its department. Helen studied to become a musician at Wilkes, and eventually taught musical techniques at Wilkes.
Helen recollected back to the summer of 1972 when Hurricane Agnes began its descent upon Wyoming Valley. She talked about the aftermath of Agnes and how she was “blessed” to have the previous owners of the house install metal reinforcements behind the walls of the house.
The house was two blocks away from where the dike was overcome by the flood and was still standing after the flood cleared. Helen and George began the rebuilding process of their home. George would travel to Wilkes University to help rebuild the campus, then come back home to rebuild the house.
“As I looked around the wreckage inside my house, there was some furniture that survived while clamps and nail reinforcements were needed for others,” said Helen Ralston.
“Like the furniture, the people survived and were reinforced by this tragic disaster and helped each other build and grow as a community.”