Mid-Atlantic storm cuts power and floods roads
WASHINGTON - Heavy rain drenched the mid-Atlantic region yesterday, knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers, flooding roads, and chasing people out of their homes.
As much as 5 inches of rain fell across the region from Sunday afternoon into yesterday, with another half-inch possible in some areas.
It's "possibly the worst flooding that I've seen since Hurricane Isabel in '03," said Steven Marshall, director of the Department of Emergency Services in Somerset County, Md.
Strong wind and saturated soil brought down trees and cut power to homes and businesses throughout the region.
Numerous roads were closed because of high water and firefighters reported calls from stranded motorists and some boaters who had to be rescued.
A sinkhole as much as 30 feet wide and 10 feet deep led to the evacuation of three homes in Camp Springs, Md. said Mark Brady, a Prince George's County fire department spokesman. The porch of one home collapsed into the hole.
Along the Delaware coast, residents of several communities in Kent County were evacuated yesterday because of flooding. National Guard troop carriers capable of driving through 6 feet of water rescued trapped residents. Flood warnings in the region were extended through today.
About 30 people in Bowers, Del., fled to a fire station, with dozens of others seeking refuge, said Willie Trowbridge, president of the town's fire department.
"We still have some people in their houses who have refused to leave," he said.
A Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued two men yesterday from a private research ship that was breaking up and taking on water about 14 miles off the coast of Rehoboth Beach, Del.
The ship, named for a former Delaware governor, was christened in Wilmington six weeks ago and was being used for the study of migratory bird routes.
Utilities reported 50,000 customers without power in Maryland, nearly 50,000 in New Jersey, more than 23,000 in Delaware, 16,000 in Virginia, and 4,500 in the District of Columbia. Power already had been restored to many of those customers.
