Across from our house on the Delaware River is Washington's Crossing, Pa. It's named after the place where Washington and his Army crossed the Delaware on Christmas Day in 1776 before the famous Battle of Trenton. It's a beautiful section of Buck's County, Pa. From the New Jersey side it's a short
ride over the single lane Washington's Crossing Bridge onto Washington's Crossing Road (532). There's the Delaware River, the Delaware and Raritan Canal on the Jersey side and the Delaware Canal on the Pennsy side. There are numerous tributaries, big and small, that empty into the Delaware.
In 2021, Hurricane Ida planted herself over New Jersey dumping upwards of 10 inches of rain in a short amount of time and Hopewell, where I live, wasn't spared. In all there were 25 deaths reported, several in my town due to severe flash flooding. Last night, Saturday July 15th, nearly 7 inches of rain fell on the Pennsy side causing a flash flood that blew out the usual trickle tributaries causing roads to undermine and flood in as little as an hours time.
The tragedy occurred just off Washington's Crossing road about a mile and a half from the bridge. It occurred on Hough's Creek, named after one of the first settlers there, Richard Hough. Several cars became caught in the flooding. Five are dead, including several members of a family from Charleston, South Carolina. The family, a grandmother, husband, wife and three kids, ages 4, 2 and 9 months attempted to flee but got caught in the massive rush of water. The grandmother, husband and four year old survived, the mother perished, and the two children, 2 and 9 months are unaccounted for. The other deaths came from other motorists trapped in the flooding.
We were down in Cape May when we heard the news and upon arriving back in town Sunday night I headed over to get another set of eyes on Hough's Creek, the Delaware Canal, and the Delaware River, which is running high, hard, and full of debris. There were all types of emergency services beyond where streets were blocked off but other people were walking the canal just in case. I walked for miles along the canal hoping to find something. The problem is the bodies could be far from where the accident happened.
Where Hough's Creek passes under the Delaware Canal
Hough's Creek, swollen from a small creek to a raging river, travels east towards the big river, passing under the Delaware Canal at Taylorsville and Aqueduct Roads. While walking the canal you could see the height and force of the water moving everything from trees, rocks, and roadway out of it's path. This afternoon the mother's body was recovered and the recovery operations continue tonight.
My hope is they can locate the body in short order. However, a concern is the waters were high and strong enough to carry anything in its path into the Delaware River, making a short recovery doubtful.
Where Hough's Creek empties into the Delaware River
My heart breaks and prayers go out to the family, just on vacation from down south and heading to a family barbecue, when this tragedy happened. Mother Nature can be very angry and nasty sometimes. Parts of New Jersey, such as Warren and Hunterdon Counties also saw tremendous flash flooding as well. These quick weather events are too much for developed or developing neighborhoods along small creeks and rivers, big and small, to handle. There is so much damage done from this round of storms. And while I'll be spending some time down in a flooded basement, again, I cannot imagine the horror the family felt during this ordeal. You cannot even compare property or possessions to injury or the loss of life. A very sad summer day for sure. One that will not be forgotten.
