Flash Flood — District of Columbia, District of Columbia

2001-08-11 · near Countywide, District of Columbia, District of Columbia

Event narrative

Over 3000 homes and businesses and almost 50 government buildings were damaged after 6 inches of rain fell in less than 3 hours.

Wider weather episode

Showers and thunderstorms with very heavy downpours formed over the District for the 2nd straight day around 3 PM EDT and remained near stationary over all but far Southeast D.C. through 6 PM. These storms dumped between 5 and 7 inches of rain in less than three hours which caused the worst flash flooding the city had experienced since 1944. Damages to public and private property totaled around $6 million and the city was given a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration. The hardest hit areas were along Rhode Island Avenue between 2nd and 5th Streets NE and along U Street between 11th and 14th Streets. Over 3300 homes and private businesses requested assistance for flood damage. Few victims that reported damage to their homes had flood insurance and 90% were low income. Over 8000 customers in a 35-block area around Dupont Circle lost power for more than 24 hours. Numerous residents reported damage when sewers backed up into their homes and businesses through toilets and sinks. The American Red Cross served nearly 45,000 meals to flood victims and housed 6 displaced families. The city government noted significant flood damage to 30 schools, 6 hospitals, 7 libraries, Rock Creek Park, countless roads, and much of the 130-year-old sewer infrastructure. Water seeping into wires in the sewer system cause manhole covers to explode. A sewer line in a parking lot near the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and 48th Place NW ruptured, opening a 20-foot-wide and 25-foot-deep sinkhole which swallowed an unoccupied car. A series of pumping stations were damaged from ingestion of flood debris. Several motorists were stranded by high water. Areas along Rock Creek saw mud slides and more than two dozen downed trees. Rock Creek Parkway was closed by debris between Virginia and Cathedral Avenue. A car on Broad Branch Road stalled in flood waters from Rock Creek. A man and his pregnant wife were partially swept downstream while trying to exit the vehicle. Both people were rescued by another motorist and were treated for minor injuries. The bridges across Broad Branch Road and Beech Drive NW were damaged by rushing water. A mudslide on Macomb Street NW pushed a house 12 feet off its foundation. The Metro subway system received $1 million damage to rolling stock and escalators as a result of flooding in underground stations. Two stations which had flooding on the mezzanine and platform levels had to remain closed until the flood waters receded. A rain gauge at Quebec Street NW with a capacity of 7.25 inches overflowed during the 3 hour deluge. Additional rainfall totals included 6.24 inches at Dupont Circle, 5.53 inches a mile from Dupont Circle, and 5.36 inches at Dalecarlia Reservoir.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5263600. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.