Previous redevelopment efforts would pale in comparison to the new struggle facing Johnstown after the 1977 flood, a flood whose rampaging waters were to leave the City with nearly 100 dead and millions of dollars in property damage – home and businesses destroyed or damaged.

But Johnstown, as it did in the floods of 1889 and 1936, went to work, with the Redevelopment Authority playing a vital role in recovery efforts.

The Authority worked to relocate families and businesses, to acquire homes ravaged by the flood to rehabilitate housing. In all, the Authority handled nearly 2,500 claims, totaling more than $20 million obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs under a $50 million Flood Recovery Bond Issue.

The authority had to ‘recreate’ the flood devastated properties – using old pictures and educated estimates. The authority had to prepare a redevelopment plan for the land before the owner could be compensated.

Hundreds of victims were relocated; 300 damaged homes were demolished, other were rehabilitated with reimbursement grants.

Private enterprise went to work, to, and a determined U.S. Bank, for example, went ahead with a huge expansion project in the fall of 1977, building a five-story addition at the corner of Main and Franklin Streets, tying in with the 12-story original structure at a cost of $7 million. That faith in the downtown helped spur flood recovery efforts.

For more information on Johnstown’s major floods, visit the Johnstown Area Heritage Association.