What is flooding situation in Danville, PA? (Bloomsburg, Riverside: buying a home, buying)

[lucyhoneychurch]

Hello,

We are considering a move to Danville, and we have seen a few lovely homes right on the river. Could someone tell me how often the river floods the town? I know Bloomsburg gets the worst of it, and also that Danville has built levees to try and stop any overflow, but am I still an idiot to even consider buying a home less than one block away?

Thanks.

[cathyde]

We lived a block away from the river, (near the old high school football field) and on only two occasions did we have real cause for concern. The levee system was put into place along the Susquehanna river in town after the '72 flood. The house we had, during that flood, had water in the basement and 3 feet into the first floor. It usually flooded the football field and would rise up there, it being the low point and unprotected, but the borough put in flood gates there and along Route 11. The borough also recently finished a levee along the Mahoning Creek, which runs along the other side of our street (and runs along the rear of Danville Middle School). That area was much more prone to flooding but with the addition, should reduce, if not stop, the flooding at the school. The houses right up along the river in Riverside would flood sometimes, but there is no levee over there.

Bloomsburg is still fighting over putting a levee system in along the river there. The flooding that occurs there can get very serious. If you want to see, just head over to the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds - the water levels are marked in various places around the fairgrounds.

Hope this helps! Where in particular are you looking at homes? There are some beautiful places along Market Street, many are on the Historical Society list.

[lucyhoneychurch]

We did see homes we liked on Market, especially the ones with larger backyards that had views to the river. Also Water street near the old factory, and we also liked Riverside very much as well. We are interested in older homes, so in town seemed better than up the hill behind the hospital!

[KevinE]

If it's a location near the river then eventually it will get flooded. Check the FEMA flood maps and you will get a detailed risk analysis.