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West Pittston: 3 Years After The Flood

WEST PITTSTON — “It was terrible. You almost had a nervous breakdown because it was everything you worked for your whole life just sort of vanishes ...

WEST PITTSTON -- "It was terrible. You almost had a nervous breakdown because it was everything you worked for your whole life just sort of vanishes all at once," said Bob Trusavage of West Pittston.

It was a time some people describe as the worst time in their lives.

Now, three years later, communities like West Pittston still bear the scars of the flood of 2011.

The Trusavage home along the banks of the Susquehanna River was once a single story ranch. The owners are now raising it 11 and a half feet to avoid any more flood fears.

"I pulled in my driveway at 6:30 a.m. on the day of the flood and I already had water flowing into our basement, so basically what I did was back the truck out, leave, and we lost everything," said Trusavage.

Some places in West Pittston are still boarded up from the flood, others are for sale.

The West Pittston Library was hit hard by the flood waters. Books, tables, and chairs were destroyed as the water came up four feet, but help from the community came quickly.

"When you are working so hard to rebuild, the time really flies," said Anne Bramblett Barr, the library director.

At Old Mill Pine Hardware there is a line inside, reminding everyone how high the water came in 2011.

"It came really fast. Really nobody was ready for it. All of a sudden water was just everywhere, everywhere and mud," said co-owner Christine Holtz.

Despite the mess and a power outage, the longtime West Pittston business reopened in less than 24 hours.

"It's amazing that it's been three years. I have lived in West Pittston my entire life. I grew up down the street from where I live now. My parents live here. They were flooded, too. My sister was flooded. You know everybody lost a lot of stuff and so it is amazing that is has been three years," said Holtz.

While the flood chased some from this community, others said it will take a lot more than that to have them leave their hometown.

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