A compliation of storm-related news from Harford County:
The Emergency Operations Center handled no fewer than a half-dozen swiftwater rescues Thursday including incidents at Carr’s Mill Road in Fallston, Route 924 and Patterson Mill Road in Bel Air, and Route 136 at the Deer Creek bridge in Churchville. There was also a motor vehicle accident with injury and a rescue at St. Mary’s Road in Pylesville and reports of an overturned vehicle in Street.
Dagger reader Dave Harrison took this 2-minute video of Winter’s Run flooding onto Carrs Mill Road in Fallston. And Melissa Ford took this 30-second clip of Deer Creek raging through Rocks State Park.
A resident outside Rocks State Park reports Deer Creek had crested its banks and covered Rocks Road by about noon, then receeded by around 4 p.m. Rocks Station Road was also underwater for a few hours and the driver of a vehicle had to be rescued at one point in the day after attempting to pass through high water. The surging Deer Creek also threatened St. Clair Bridge Road, which was closed down at Holy Cross Road. Further down Deer Creek, near Harmony Church Road, there were reports of crews working to rescue a few people who decided today would make a nice day for a tube ride down the creek. There are also unconfirmed reports from the same area of a Jeep underwater with its lights on.
Dagger columnist Todd Holden kept an eye on the stormy scene bubbling along Bynum Run in Bel Air:
Phase 1 took everyone by surprise, it was so fast, the water rising closing off streets around Leeswood, Hampton Ridge, and of course the old Del Haven intersection of Moore’s Mill Road and Hickory Avenue North. The parking lot at the old 7-Eleven looked like a marina, with all the boats out to sea. There was tremendous water damage done to several homes and businesses.
Folks came down Henderson Road, saw the turbulence of Wysong Branch raging through the metal guardrails and turned around, fearing the swift waters would take their Kia’s down stream.
Smart folks, turning around was the right thing to do. Unlike some of the dare-devils over Harmony Church way.
While some were digging out drain pipes under long, gravel lanes, in order to free the road surface from the run-off of flat soybean fields, others stayed inside and just watched at the rain gauges climbed faster than meat thermometer in a prime filet on the grille.
With the thought there may be an Act II, many farmers in the area just kept the field drains open as best they could, using rakes and pitch-forks to manage the water soaked flotsam and debris from miles upstream as the feeder streams to Bynum Run, kept swelling.
A partial list of the roads closed by high water or fallen trees includes:
Joppa Farm @ CSX
RT 755 @ CSX
Hanson Rd @ Fern
1207 Montreal Dr.
Forest Green @ Perryman Rd
Box Hill S. Parkway
Reckord Rd
Connolly Rd
Old Fallston Rd
St. Andrews Way
722-816 Aldino Stepney Rd
Old Joppa Rd @ Whitaker Mill Rd
Prospect Mill @ Moreland Rd
Schucks Rd
Patterson Mill Rd
Tollgate Rd
Carrs Mill Rd
Edwards Lane
Cherry Hill @ Burkins
Old level Rd (Greenspring & Glen.)
Love Rd (Glen Cove & Franklin Ch.)
Old Pylesville Rd
Kerr Rd @ Delp Rd
Red Bridge @ Eden Mill
Trimble Rd (Garnett & Foster Knoll)
Winters Run Rd
Walters Mill Rd (543 @ Sandy Hook)
Moores Mill Rd. (Econ to School)
Laurel Brook Rd (Friendship & Pleasantville)
Old Joppa Rd (700)
Mt. Horeb
Moores Mill Rd (Rt 22 to School)
Sandy Hook Rd
Kalmia Rd
Buttermilk @ West Heaps
Rigdon Rd (Duxbury to Rocks Chrome Hill Rd)
Neal @ Bridge
Criags Corner (earth section)
Rocks Station Road
Slate Ridge Rd
720 Hookers Mill Road
601 Robin Hood Rd
Telegraph Rd
Eden Mill Rd
St. Clair Bridge Rd
Holy Cross Rd
Fawn Grove Rd (@ dam)
Putman Road
Walters Mill Rd (Grier Nur. Side)
Macton Rd
Mill Green @ Prospect & Macton
Glenville Rd (Stokes & Har. Church)
E. Nobles Mill Rd
Deths Ford (End of)
Brinegar Rd
5:21 p.m. From Harford County government:
Heavy Rains Cause Flooding and Force Road Closures In Harford County
Citizens urged to remain vigilant during storm
Harford County Executive David R. Craig urges citizens of Harford County to remain vigilant and use caution during Tropical Storm Nicole. Since rain began falling in Harford County early Thursday morning, more than five inches of rain has saturated the ground and much more is expected.
“We are concerned for the citizens of Harford County that reside in low-lying areas which are prone to flooding,” stated County Executive Craig. “As weather conditions continue to deteriorate over the next 24 hours, record level rainfall could result in flooding of homes and properties that are susceptible to such conditions during low-pressure storms such as the one currently affecting the State of Maryland,” the County Executive remarked.
Flooding is the nation’s most common natural disaster. Flooding can develop slowly during an extended period of rain, while flash floods can occur quickly without warning. Even small streams or creek beds can overflow and create flooding conditions.
The Harford County Division of Emergency Operations (EOC) stresses it isimportant to be prepared for flooding no matter where you live, but particularly for those who reside in low-lying areas.
Residents of low-lying areas should begin to prepare to relocate their family and pets. Reach out to friends and relatives that may be able to assist family and loved ones in relocating. Those who need assistance should contact the Harford County Government Hotline at 410-838-5800. Storms such as Tropical Storm Nicole should be taken very seriously.
As a result of the heavy rainfall and winds preceding Tropical Storm Nicole, more than 20 county roads were closed throughout the county during the storm Thursday and Harford County fire and EMS personnel responded to scores of calls, including several water rescue emergencies.
Knowing what to do during an emergency is an important part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count. Emergency preparedness is everyone’s responsibility.
For further information preparedness information visit the Harford County Division of Emergency Operations website at www.harfordpublicsafety.org and click on the “Surviving the Storm” icon.
The Harford County Division of Emergency Operations will remain activated throughout the storm. For routine inquiries citizens may call the Harford County Government Hotline at 410-838-5800.
5:49 p.m. From Harford County Public Schools:
Good evening. This is Harford County Public Schools Manager of Communications Teri Kranefeld with an important inclement weather announcement. Due to building/phone issues, road closures, and an intensified forecast due to Tropical Storm Nicole, all Harford County Public Schools will open two hours late with no morning Pre-K, tomorrow, Friday, October 1st. Please keep in mind, conditions may intensify overnight so please continue to monitor TV/radio stations, our website (www.hcps.org) and your phones tomorrow morning for any potential updates. Again, HCPS will open two hours late with no morning Pre-K tomorrow Friday, October 1. Thank you for your patience and understanding. This is Teri Kranefeld for Harford County Public Schools.
11:04 a.m. From Harford County Public Schools:
County schools closed early on Thursday due to the morning’s heavy rains and further expected inclement weather.
All Harford County Public Schools will be closing early today, September 30th, due to deteriorating conditions caused by Tropical Storm Nicole. The following dismissal schedule will be used:
High Schools will dismiss at 11:00 a.m.
All Pre-K programs will dismiss at 11:30 a.m.
Middle Schools will dismiss at 12:00 p.m.
All elementary schools will dismiss at 1:00 p.m., with the exception of Fourth Tier elementary schools which will dismiss at 1:45 p.m.
Alternative Education and the arrow school will dismiss at 2:45 p.m.
In addition, all afternoon and evening activities, as well as afternoon pre-K are cancelled.
Havre de Grace Elementary School is closed immediately. Arrangements are being made to dismiss HdG Middle and High
AlertNow Message to Havre de Grace Elementary, Middle and High parents:
This is Teri Kranefeld, manager of communications for Harford County Public Schools calling with an important message. Havre de Grace elementary school will be closed immediately due to deteriorating weather conditions caused by Tropical Storm Nicole. If your child has not left for school at this point, please keep them at home. If your child has been picked up, we will transport them to Roye Williams Elementary School to hold them in order to facilitate a safe dismissal as quickly as possible. In addition, arrangements are currently being made to dismiss Havre de Grace middle and high school. More information will be coming regarding that dismissal. This is Teri Kranefeld for Harford County Public Schools.
10:11 a.m. From the State Highway Administration:
STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION CREWS RESPOND TO SEVERE STORM
Many Roadways Temporarily Closed Due to Downed Trees and High Water
(September 30, 2010) –Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) crews are continuing to respond to downed trees, high water and traffic signal outages as a result of heavy rain that is moving through the State. Motorists should allow additional travel time throughout the day and anticipate detours and delays.
There are several road and/or lane closures on numbered roads, especially near low lying areas and near small streams that may rapidly rise above the banks.
Utility crews across the region are working to restore power to traffic signals. Motorists are reminded to use extreme caution at intersections with traffic signal outages. Side street traffic should yield to mainline traffic. Many businesses have contacted a commercial restoration company to assess and restore the damages.
SHA crews will place high water signs and barricades throughout the day, but there may be unmarked areas so motorists must be extremely cautious. Remember to make smart decisions behind the wheel and Choose Safety for Life by using the following tips:
• Do not try to cross a flooded roadway. Eighty percent of flood-related deaths occur in vehicles. Two feet of rapidly moving water can float a bus and six inches can knock a person off his or her feet.
• Avoid downed or damaged power and transmission wires and cables.
• Keep alert for animals, such as deer, that will be fleeing dangerous areas and crossing roadways.
• Stay alert for traffic signal issues related to power outages. Remember the rules of the road.
Motorists are urged to frequently check SHA’s website at www.roads.maryland.gov and click “CHART” for real-time traffic information. For quick updates, follow SHA on Twitter at MDSHA.
It’s 2:53 am on Oct. 1st and most of the roads in Havre de Grace are closed down. Flooding and evac are rampant. Sounds like some idiot tried to take advantage of the situation to break into the new glock store in town- managed to cut themselves real good and leave a significant amount of blood. Ambulances are being rerouted up rt 7 and past the National Guard compound as all other approaches to the hospital are blocked. Hats off to our first responders who continue to work through this long, wet night. My guess is that schools will be closed come the dawn.
I cannot thank you enough for the blog post.Much thanks again. Fantastic.