Assessing damage and thanking rescue workers after Isaias
Tuesday brought a deluge of rain to the region from Tropical Storm Isaias; Wednesday brought sunshine and cleanup efforts.
Residents throughout the region assessed flooding damage, pumped out basements, picked up pieces — literally — and pitched in to help neighbors put their homes and properties back in order.
Officials in hard-hit Montgomery County issued an emergency declaration Wednesday, as did Delaware County, paving the way for data collection and disaster aid. In announcing the order, Montco Commissioners Chairwoman Valerie Arkoosh said the declaration “gives us the legal mechanism to request reimbursement both for the response that the county had, which was quite extensive, as well as for individual property owners who’ve had property damaged.”
The county’s 911 Emergency Dispatch Center in Eagleville received a total of 5,097 calls on Tuesday, according to Arkoosh. On a typical day, the center receives between 2,200 and 2,300 calls, officials said.
Montgomery County emergency responders performed 134 water rescues across the county, “pulling stranded commuters from their vehicles and ferrying residents from their homes,” Arkoosh said. The Perkiomen Creek rose to levels not seen in more than 106 years while a rainfall total of more than 8.5 inches was measured in Lower Merion Township.
In Pottstown, the Manatawny Creek ravaged through Memorial Park and the surrounding ballfields, flooding basements in homes on Walnut Street in an area prone to rising water. Neighbors were working together this week reminding observers that they were repeating the same cleanup and damage assessment as a year ago.
In Chester County, there were 1,648 total incidents related to the storm — including 127 water rescues — on Tuesday, according to Patty Mains, assistant director for external liaison and public information for Chester County Department of Emergency Services.
There were 497 incidents reporting general hazards including fallen trees blocking roadways, and 168 incidents related to poles, wires, transformers which required fire department response.
In Berks County, residents along Saucony Creek and Maiden Creek talked about the surging waters being worse than anything seen in their lifetimes, as waters swollen by as much as 8.5 inches of rain in a few hours fell on the region.
Along with the rain, winds moved in, toppling trees and wires, resulting in power outages to thousands of homes and businesses. The National Weather Service placed two separate areas under investigation for “possible tornado activity,” Arkoosh said. The weather service on Wednesday confirmed a tornado touched down in Worcester Township.
Tragically, the storm also claimed the life of a 5-year-old Towamencin girl, Eliza Talal, who went missing on Tuesday and whose body was discovered Wednesday morning at Fischer’s Park about one and a half miles from her home near the stream which flowed behind her house.
Towamencin Police Chief Tim Dickinson praised the tireless efforts of the more than 100 volunteers who searched the township day and night Tuesday into Wednesday. The search was difficult as Eliza was an autistic, non-verbal 5-year-old child.
“We have hope until there’s no longer hope and I can tell you that these police officers here, and first responders, and community members searched tirelessly,” Dickinson said. “It’s amazing when you see people come together — what they can do.”
Dickinson also noted that during the same time as the search, Towamencin fire company volunteers were called to 11 water rescues.
The storms of recent years have demonstrated how quickly waters can become life threatening. A small stream is suddenly a raging torrent with uncontrolled currents. A seeping spread toward the porch can grow quickly to cover a doorway and prevent exit from a home. A puddle that appears easy to drive through can stall a car and trap those inside.
In the aftermath of Isaias, we offer condolences and prayers to the family of Eliza Talal and a thank you to the emergency workers who rescued so many others from the relentless storm.
The days of assessing damage are a reminder that material things can be rebuilt and replaced. It’s not worth jeopardizing lives to try to save items in a house or to attempt driving through water.
Cleanup is cause to help your neighbor, thank a volunteer, and count blessings. Floods are unforgiving in their relentless rise; we can all benefit from heeding the warning signs early before it’s too late.