( CNN ) -- The flood-engorged Susquehanna River was beginning to crest late Thursday in some Pennsylvania and New York cities , while other communities braced for still higher water levels . Thousands evacuated their homes as the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee moved across already sodden portions of the Northeast , triggering near-historic flooding and leaving at least three people dead . In Luzerne County , in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania , between 65,000 and 70,000 people were ordered to leave their homes as the Susquehanna rose above flood stage , according to Emergency Management Coordinator Stephen Bekanich . The levee system was holding late Thursday in Wilkes-Barre , the county seat , a few hours before the river was to crest . As of 9:45 p.m . ET Thursday , the Susquehanna was at 38.83 feet at Wilkes-Barre . Flood stage is 22 feet , according to the National Weather Service.The valley has a levee system that tops out at 41 feet , and the river was projected to crest just shy of that Friday morning , near 40.7 feet , according to Drew McLaughlin , a spokesman for the Wilkes-Barre mayor 's office . McLaughlin and other officials were examining the levees . `` We 're closely monitoring , and it seems they are holding steady , '' he said . A river gate near the Market Street Bridge was leaking late Thursday , but sandbags and other repairs were keeping it in check , with some minor street flooding in the area , according to McLaughlin . `` It 's pretty much a ghost town , '' McLaughlin said from south downtown , adding that residents appeared to heed the call to leave . Other Luzerne County communities not protected by the system were not so fortunate . Heavy flooding was reported in West Pittston , Harding and Plymouth Township . `` At this point , we have n't been able to assess that ( flooding and damage ) because the water is so high , '' Bekanich said . Plymouth Township resident Francis Federici was forced to leave his home , which sat in 5-foot floodwaters . `` On a normal day , we love it here , '' he said . `` There 's nobody around us . We have a beautiful yard . We were fixing our home up . '' `` The rise of the river is so tremendous , we put out a request to volunteers to assist in sandbagging operations , '' Bekanich said . `` We 're getting more and more alarmed as the day progresses , '' said Luzerne County Commissioner Maryanne Petrilla , who said the river is now forecast to crest between midnight Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday . Shelter space for 4,100 was rapidly being filled , and the county was looking for more space , Petrilla told CNN . The area from Ithaca to Syracuse to Utica , in New York , and from Wilkes-Barre , Scranton , to Monticello , in Pennsylvania , continued to experience major to record flooding , CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen said . A 71-year-old man died Wednesday night in Derry Township , Pennsylvania , as he was bailing water out of the basement of his home and the walls of the structure caved in , said Chief Patrick O'Rourke of Derry Township Police . A second person drowned early Thursday near Brickerville in Lancaster County , CNN affiliate WGAL-TV reported . A third person died about 4:30 a.m. Thursday in North Lebanon Township , Pennsylvania , police said . A motorist became stranded in high water and was outside the vehicle when struck by another vehicle , which then left the scene . The suspect and that vehicle were found , authorities said . Elizabethtown , Pennsylvania , had received an incredible 15.37 inches of rainfall associated with Lee . P & J Pizza , which escaped flooding , did a brisk business Thursday because so many residents could n't use their kitchens , said employee Sarah Bellia . Many recalled the flooding caused by Hurricane Agnes in 1972 . That storm dumped as much as 18 inches of rain on the area in two days , destroying more than 68,000 homes and 3,000 businesses and leaving 220,000 Pennsylvanians homeless . In Bloomsburg , Pennsylvania , CNN iReporter Nick Bohacz said flooded roads prevented him from getting to work . Bohacz , who sent in several photos of the flooding , said he saw a line of people outside a hardware store waiting for supplies . Harrisburg , Pennsylvania , and other towns wo n't see a river crest until later Friday . The rising Susquehanna and Chenango rivers were also triggering evacuations in upstate New York , where evacuation orders were issued for portions of Binghamton and the towns of Conklin , Endicott , Johnson City , Union and Vestal , according to CNN affiliate YNN-TV . Numerous cities and counties declared a state of emergency . Video from Johnson City showed a flooded shopping mall and a football field with water nearly up to its goalposts . `` This is a major flooding situation , '' New York Gov . Andrew Cuomo said at a news conference . `` This is nothing to trifle with . '' He said he believes flooding will reach historic levels . `` By the time it looks that bad , you wo n't be able to leave , '' he said . Water was coming over the floodwalls in Binghamton , county spokeswoman Colleen Wagner said . About 15,000 people were ordered to evacuate , and about 1,400 were in shelters , she said . State officials sent in food and water . A number of boat rescues have taken place , she said , but she did not know how many . The Susquehanna later Thursday crested at 25.71 feet . Broome County Emergency Services Director Brett Chellis urged people in the evacuation areas to leave and not return for now . Water was topping flood walls in Union and Vestal as well as Binghamton , he said . In Otego , New York , about 50 miles northeast of Binghamton , CNN iReporter Don Wyckoff captured footage of water cascading down a road . Wyckoff said he was stunned after watching neighbors and family members lose their homes to the floodwaters . `` You are seeing the tiny mill creek rip out culvert pipes and tearing away roads , '' he said . `` We never thought we would see this again . It happened in 2006 , but it is worse now . '' In Oneonta , on the Susquehanna upstream of Binghamton , Police Chief Gary O'Neill said some roads were washed out and parks flooded , but the water appeared to be receding . On the down side , water was flooding the chief 's home in Binghamton . Mandatory evacuations were also in place for low-lying areas near Schenectady , New York , YNN said . In neighboring Montgomery County , authorities closed all roads and county buildings until further notice , saying only emergency vehicles would be allowed to travel . The New York State Thruway Authority opened and closed several roads and ramps . In Maryland , areas near Baltimore were also affected . High water blocked dozens of roads in Baltimore County , according to CNN affiliate WMAR-TV . In Anne Arundel County , Maryland , crews found a 49-year-old man in floodwaters , CNN affiliate WBL reported . The man died at a hospital . The circumstances of his death were not clear Thursday evening . Port Deposit , Maryland , about 45 miles northeast of Baltimore along the Susquehanna , ordered an evacuation of the town 's 800 residents by 8 p.m. Thursday . The Prince George 's County , Maryland , Fire and EMS Department said it was responding to numerous emergency calls , and nearly two dozen people had been rescued or helped by firefighters and the department 's swift-water team . Because the system is slow-moving , `` I 'm afraid it 's going to get worse before it gets better , '' CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano said . Several rounds of heavy rain are in store for much of the region the next couple of days , with an additional 2 to 6 inches forecast -- and in isolated cases as much as 10 inches , according to the National Weather Service . The rain comes on top of the heavy precipitation that has fallen in the region from Irene . What 's left of Lee has stalled across the central Appalachian Mountains . Rainfall totals through 2 p.m. Thursday included 11.66 inches in Waldorf , Maryland ; 8.23 inches at Andrews Air Force Base , Maryland ; 9.55 inches in Phillipsburg , New Jersey ; 10.08 inches in Binghamton ; 14.7 inches in Pine Grove , Pennsylvania ; 13.3 inches in Harrisburg , Pennsylvania , according to the National Weather Service 's Hydrometeorological Prediction Center . CNN 's Sarah Dillingham , Ines Ferre , Mary Snow , Scott Thompson and Jesse Solomon contributed to this report .
Susquehanna River begins to crest in Pennsylvania , New York state . Storm brought 15.37 inches of rain to Elizabethtown , Pennsylvania . Susquehanna River nearly 17 feet above flood stage near Wilkes-Barre . Wilkes-Barre , Pennsylvania , officials say they believe levees will hold .