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Cleaning up After Flooding in Sullivan County

HILLSGROVE TOWNSHIP — As flood cleanup continues in Sullivan County, there are feelings of both shock and disbelief. Houses that stood for more than 100 y...

HILLSGROVE TOWNSHIP -- As flood cleanup continues in Sullivan County, there are feelings of both shock and disbelief. Houses that stood for more than 100 years are now reduced to rubble.

On Sunday, people stood at the damaged bridge on Route 87 just days after flooding ripped through Hillsgrove Township south of Forksville.

Crews were out since early in the morning clearing debris while residents tried to put their lives back together.

“The work that is involved is unbelievable. It takes forever to clean up, and they need as much help as they can get,” said Bob Martucci of Hillsgrove Township.

Back in 2011, flooding ripped through the Martucci home. Now with the house on stilts, the recent flooding only caused minimal damage.

“It’s hard to see this because it brings us back to the time that we had, and as you can see, it is difficult. It's devastating to the families involved,” said Martucci.

Others who live closer to the bridge weren't so lucky.

Dennis Renninger tells Newswatch 16 he was surprised when his basement flooded six feet and water surrounded his home.

“The 2011 flood when we had 14 inches of rain wasn't maybe half of this, and there was no water around my house then, not like this time. And this time, we got seven inches in three or four hours,” Renninger said.

Renninger is grateful that neighbors are helping one another out during these trying times.

“You realize how important they are to you when you need them, so we are doing OK. It’s going to take a long time to clean up, but we will get there,” he said.

The Sullivan County School District is on a two-hour delay for Monday morning, according to the district's website.

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