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Crews Conduct Water Rescues in Susquehanna County

FRANKLIN FORKS,  Pa. — Fire crews say they saved a dozen people Tuesday morning when flood waters pummeled Franklin Forks. There’s still water gushi...

FRANKLIN FORKS,  Pa. -- Fire crews say they saved a dozen people Tuesday morning when flood waters pummeled Franklin Forks. There's still water gushing through homes and businesses including Snake Creek Marine which had numerous motorboats carried away in the current.

There isn't much else Allen Coy can do but pick up the pieces after torrential rains sent floodwaters from Silver Creek burst through his business on Route 29 in Franklin Forks.

"Started coming up in about 20 minutes. It was three, four feet, something came down and blocked the bridge," said Coy.

Roads buckled, sheds were whisked away and toppled, and as many as one dozen motor boats at Coy's Snake Creek Marine washed away.

"I'll be honest. I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm going to take 24, 48 hours to make up my mind. I lost my business and customers' boats. I feel responsible," Coy said.

A total of 12 people were pulled from homes near Liberty Community Park. This mobile home park was inundated by flash floods and Snake Creek.

A father and daughter and two dogs were rescued by boat and were thankful to make it out OK.

"It was serious, very quick. It was scary, didn't know how we were going to get out," Summer Backley said.

Rescue crews had their hands full all morning long on the outskirts of Hallstead.

DuBois Creek overflowed, and a couple trapped in a van needed to be brought to safety.

Eventually, the driver and passenger were safely in the boat.

Frank Spivey admits he ignored warnings and tried to make it through to reach their children at home.

"I still got to risk my life. I got to get to them trying to figure that out now, maybe I got to walk," Spivey said.

Crews used ropes in a successful rescue when the floods hit Rita Frailey's home while she, her sister, and two young children were inside

With all the destruction around, Frailey can't thank first responders enough for coming to get them and one special boy.

"His dad was on the rescue team. He got right in that boat and snuggled by his dad," Frailey said.

Many of the folks who needed to be rescued have said the same thing: the torrential rain and flooding didn't give them enough time to get out.

There are two shelters set up in Susquehanna County for folks who need a place to stay -- one at Montrose High School, the other at Blue Ridge High School.

The Susquehanna County commissioners have declared a county-wide disaster emergency.

See the latest list of road closures here.

For latest weather forecast, click here.

Get real-time stream levels here.

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