Flash Flood — Delaware, Pennsylvania

2004-08-01 · near East Portion, Delaware, Pennsylvania

Wider weather episode

Slow moving thunderstorms with torrential downpours caused flash flooding of streams as well as widespread poor drainage flooding in eastern Delaware County. Doppler Radar storm total estimates reached between 5 and 6 inches. Hardest hit were Haverford and Upper Darby Townships as well as Darby Borough. States of emergencies were declared in Darby and Upper Darby. About 660 residents were evacuated from the three municipalities. One hundred forty-two homes, seventy-seven apartments and sixty-nine businesses suffered major damage. In addition, about 400 other homes and 50 other businesses suffered minor damage. Furniture, appliances, household goods and food were all damaged or destroyed. At least 200 vehicles were badly damaged as many floated away and were flipped by the flood waters. Homes were flooded through their first floor. PECO Energy reported about 35,000 homes and businesses in their service area lost power including Delaware County. Gas service was also shut to numerous homes. Delaware County issued a declaration of disaster emergency in the county. This activated the emergency management plan for the county and allowed county and local municipalities to waive certain requirements regarding the hiring of contractors and personnel during the emergency. In addition, on August 5th, Governor Ed Rendell declared a state of disaster in Southeastern Pennsylvania. This cleared the way for victims to receive federal funding. This also permitted the state to allocate more resources toward the recovery effort. It also waived the normal contract and bid process for clean-up efforts. On August 6th, President George W. Bush declared Philadelphia, Delaware and Montgomery Counties disaster areas. This enabled residents and businesses to apply for federal funding. In Upper Darby Township, about 400 residents were evacuated to Upper Darby High School, some by boat. About thirty-five residents were still in shelters on the 3rd. Flooding along Naylor's Run damaged houses and apartments on Cornell Avenue, Grace Road, Harper Avenue, Lindale Avenue, Normandy Road, Roosevelt Drive, Sherbrook Boulevard, Springton Road, Turner Avenue, Veronica Road and Wilson Drive. On Beverly Boulevard, twenty-four basement apartments in the Park Lane East Apartments Complex suffered major damage. Naylor Run flooding also affected every store in the Bond Shopping Center. Flood waters near the center were twelve feet deep at the intersection of 69th Street and Marshall Road. The Pathmark Supermarket in the shopping center was severely damaged (estimate $7 million dollars) as flood waters knocked in the windows. The entire merchandise stock, refrigerators, cash registers and computers were lost. Employees were rescued from the roof. The store was not re-opened until September 3rd. Businesses on Lansdowne Avenue, Marshall and Copley Roads were also badly damaged. Employees and customers of a McDonalds Restaurant were rescued through the drive-thru window in the Bond Shopping Center. The flooding closed the McDonalds as well as six shops and a bank for up to two months. In all fifty-eight businesses and one hundred three homes suffered major damage in the township. It was believed that a breach in a dam on Naylor's Run Creek exacerbated the flooding. A thirty-three foot long, ten foot wide tree hit the dam square. A storm total of at least 5 inches was measured in Drexel Hill (the gage overflowed). Other storm totals from the township included 3.50 and 3.20 inches (all within two hours).In Darby Borough, about 90 families (250 people) were sheltered at a local school. Homes, apartments and businesses were badly flooded along Fourteenth Street, Greenway Avenue, Main Street, McDade Boulevard, Springfield Road, Thirteenth Street and Tyler Avenue. Some homes had up to ten feet of water in them as appliances were floating around. The bridges over Darby Creek on Main Street and McDade Boulevard flooded. The Darby Creek at the McDade Boulevard Bridge was clogged with debris. About 39 homes and 11 businesses suffered major damage. In Haverford Township, flood damage occurred along Naylor's Run and Cobbs Creek. Nine people were evacuated. One family was displaced because of tipped oil tanks. Flood damage also occurred in the Llanerch Section near the former quarry and to the Victoria Arms Apartments. Significant damage occurred to the basement of the Haverford High School. The basement filled with around five feet of water which damaged the school's electrical, heating and cooling systems. Significant damage also occurred to the Oakmont Fire House. Several emergency vehicles were damaged. Elsewhere in the county, a small bridge in Wayne (Radnor Township) was washed away. In Yeadon and Colwyn Boroughs, flood waters from Cobbs Creek inundated several homes, businesses and roadways. In Tinicum Township, flooding along Darby Creek eroded a dike and caused flooding at the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge. The Crum Creek at Newtown Square was above its 6 foot flood stage from 839 a.m. EDT through 143 p.m. EDT on the 1st. It crested at 8.28 feet at Noon EDT. The Chester Creek at Chester was briefly above its 8 foot flood stage from 318 p.m. EDT through 338 p.m. EDT on the 1st. It crested at 8.43 feet at 330 p.m. EDT.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5421758. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.