GREAT FLOOD OF 1955

The Washington Crossing Bridge is battered by the fury of what was to become known as the Great Flood of 1955. Further downstream, the steel bridge linking Ewing Township, N.J. to Yardley, Pa. was destroyed by the Delaware's record-high flows. Two hurricanes within the same week produced flows which rose from 16,900 cubic feet per second (cfs) on August 18 to crest at 329,000 cfs on August 20. Up and down the Delaware and its tributaries, 99 lives were lost and countless homes and businesses were destroyed.