Flash Flood — Berks, Pennsylvania

2004-07-27 to 2004-07-28 · near Southeast Portion, Berks, Pennsylvania

Wider weather episode

Repeated thunderstorms with torrential downpours caused flash flooding of streams and creeks in the southeast half of Berks County. Birdsboro Borough was hit the hardest as a flooding Hay Creek caused roadway and home damage. Damage estimates were $2.1 million dollars, more than half of it occurring in Birdsboro. It was described as the worst flooding since 1987 in Birdsboro. Other hard hit townships included Robeson, Lower Alsace, Mount Penn and Union. Doppler Radar storm total estimates reached between 5 and 6 inches. The flooding rains and streams loosened the soil and downed numerous trees which in turn caused power outages. About 7,000 homes and businesses lost power. In Birdsboro, a state of emergency was declared as the Hay Creek began flooding around 7 p.m. EDT. The creek flooded Main Street (Pennsylvania State Route 724) and caused the collapse of Water Street. Water Street is expected to be closed for months. About 40 residents from 13 homes on Hay Creek Road, Fulton Street and Beacon Street were evacuated. People were sheltered at the local VFW and the fire house. A previously damaged and unused bridge along Pennsylvania State Route 82 was washed away. The Route 724 (Main Street) Bridge was closed until 1 p.m. EDT on the 28th. Flood waters and trees pounded against it, damaged the First Street Bridge which was not reopened until August 11th. The borough's sewage treatment plant was damaged and blocked by debris. About two dozen homes were damaged by the flood waters. Two homes suffered major damage and were uninhabitable. The foundation of an 8th Street home collapsed. A Hay Creek Road home had the creek flowing through its basement. Most other homes had flood waters in their basements and crawl spaces. The flood waters also damaged both borough parks. Farther upstream in Robeson Township, there was so much tree debris that dammed the Hay Creek that it carved a new route and washed away a main road at Joanna Furnace.Elsewhere in the county, in Cumru Township, the flooding Angelica Creek inundated one home. U.S. Route 222 was closed in the township. Other municipalities that reported flooding and closed roads included Amity, Caernarvon, Earl, Lower Alsace, Mount Penn, Oley, Reading and Union. The Manatawny Creek at Spangsville (Oley Township) was above its 6 foot flood stage from 636 p.m. EDT on the 27th through 607 a.m. EDT on the 28th. It crested at 6.95 feet at 1130 p.m. on the 27th.Storm totals included 5.13 inches in Birdsboro, 4.90 inches in Douglasville, 4.25 inches in Bechtelsville, 4.19 inches in Gibraltar, 3.20 inches in Cumru Township, 3.03 inches within Reading and 2.24 inches at Reading Regional Airport. The 13.85 inches of rain that fell at the Reading Regional Airport not only was the wettest July on record, but also was the third wettest month on record.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5421953. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.