Flash Flood — Berks, Pennsylvania

2001-06-22 to 2001-06-23 · near Countywide, Berks, Pennsylvania

Wider weather episode

Thunderstorms with torrential downpours caused flash flooding and flooding of creeks in Berks County. The worst damage occurred in Reading where a dam broke and a couple of streets had their asphalt peeled away. Preliminary damage estimate in the county was around 15 million dollars. The county was declared a federal disaster area. Doppler Radar storm total estimates were as high as 6 to 8 inches across the northern and southwestern parts of the county. In Reading, a 20 foot earthen section of the Angelica Lake Dam collapsed. The rushing water washed away Morgantown Road (Pennsylvania State Route 10). The Wyomissing Creek flooded Museum Road. The torrents of rain peeled away the asphalt on Perkiomen Avenue and Muhlenberg Street and exposed gas lines and water mains on the latter. Seven people were evacuated from their homes when water rose into the first floor. South of Reading, several water rescues occurred in both Shillington Borough and Cumru Township. For the second day in a row, torrential rain washed out a bridge in Greenwich Township. Two motorists were rescued from their trapped vehicles on Pennsylvania State Route 737. The Manatawny Creek at Spangsville was above its estimated 6 foot flood stage from 821 p.m. EDT on the 22nd through 347 a.m. EDT on the 23rd. The creek crested at 7.65 feet 1015 p.m. EDT on the 22nd. Farther downstream the creek crested at its estimated flood stage of 6.8 feet in Pottstown (Montgomery County). Actual storm totals included 6.09 inches in Reading, 4.90 inches in Oley, 3.31 inches in Lincoln Park, 2.85 inches at the Reading Regional Airport, 2.39 inches in Hamburg and 2.27 inches in Morgantown.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5254085. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.