HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Many of the 70,000 residents evacuated from their homes near the Susquehanna River in northeastern Pennsylvania are being allowed to return.
Officials say the river’s level in Wilkes-Barre (WILKS’-ba-ree) had dropped to about 32 feet Saturday morning and is expected to be back within its banks at about 29 feet.
Luzerne County Emergency Management Agency Director Stephen Bekanich says the evacuation order for about 50,000 to 60,000 of the evacuees is being lifted at 2:30 p.m. He says the rest of the residents will be allowed to return later Saturday and possibly into Sunday.
The flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee in many areas has been the worst since Hurricane Agnes nearly four decades ago.
