BARRE, Pa., Shawwal 12, 1432, Sep 10, 2011, SPA -- More than 130,000 people evacuated from three states swamped by Tropical Storm Lee prepared to return home to clean the mess on Saturday as flood waters began to recede, according to Reuters. The death toll from the storm rose to nine on Saturday, including people killed in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland. Relentless rain turned the Susquehanna River into a raging toxic mess after 10 sewage treatment plants were washed out in Pennsylvania. President Barack Obama declared a federal emergency in Pennsylvania and New York, home to river towns submerged under as much as 8 feet 2.5 meters of water. Rising waters forced more than 130,000 people in Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland out of their homes. The storm system that brought those rains followed flooding caused by Hurricane Irene in parts of the East Coast. In Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County engineer Jim Brozina said the Susquehanna had receded enough that people could return to their homes in the afternoon. Officials warned that any flood water remaining in houses and yards was potentially toxic. "There's raw sewage, there's the potential for petroleum products from home heating oil and things of that nature maybe mixed in with the flood waters," said Stephen Bekanich, county emergency coordinator. County Commissioner Steve Urban said utility companies were working to restore gas and power to shut-off areas. Wilkes-Barre officials estimated that about one quarter of the districts in the city of 41,500 people were flooded. A ninth death was reported after authorities towed the car of a young woman trapped by flood waters in Philadelphia. Scattered thunderstorms during the weekend could unleash heavy rain in some areas, threatening flash flooding, according to meteorologist Meghan Evans on Accuweather.com.
