Devastation on the Delaware - The 1955 Delaware River Flood

Join author Mary Shafer on June 26th at 7:30 PM for a compelling presentation on the Delaware River watershed's most catastrophic natural disaster. Drawing from her book Devastation on the Delaware: Stories and Images of the Deadly Flood of 1955, Ms. Shafer will take you on a riveting visual journey through her 45-minute digital slide show. The presentation features haunting historic photographs that capture the devastation across the Delaware Valley's hardest-hit communities, from the flood-ravaged streets of Morrisville to the mountain towns of the Poconos.

 

An avid extreme weather enthusiast, Shafer will share how the unique effects of back-to-back hurricanes Connie and Diane caused what remains of the record-holding flood on the Delaware and most of its tributaries, exploring the tragic events of August 18-20, 1955, when lives were upended, homes washed away, and ultimately 99 people were left dead or missing in the Valley. She'll provide context for the event, from before the onset of the unbelievable rainfall through the days and nights when hurricanes unleashed record-breaking floods that forever changed the Delaware Valley.

 

Through a very human approach, Shafer will take you through the stories of some of the main characters in her nonfiction book, written like a thriller, and how the flood forever changed their lives and those of the communities they lived in. She’ll help audience members who’ve only heard pieces of this compelling story finally fit them together with events all along the river and its tributaries, busting myths along the way but replacing them with truth that’s often stranger than fiction.

 

The presentation will be followed by an audience Q&A.  Attendees will also have the chance to order signed copies of the book after the presentation.

Free registration. 

 

Learn more about Shafer's work.

 

About DRGP

The Delaware River Greenway Partnership (DRGP) periodically sponsors lectures about different aspects of the Delaware River's cultural, recreational, and natural heritage. An environmental nonprofit, DRGP supports the Delaware River Scenic Byway, the Lower Delaware Wild & Scenic River, the Delaware River Water Trail, and the Delaware River Heritage Trail.

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Thank you, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation of Natural Resources, for financially supporting the 2025 Heritage Lecture series.