RAIN FLOODS REGION
Flash floods cause road closures, water rescues, closing of several King of Prussia mall stores
With heavy downpours resulting in flash flooding throughout the area, King of Prussia became ground zero for emergency crews responding to a rush of flooding and water rescue calls Monday morning.
Amid recurring warnings of “turn around, don’t drown,” a flurry of road closures, stalled vehicles, abandoned vehicles, water rescues and detours were reported.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike was shut down between Valley Forge and Norristown due to flooding, as traffic was diverted onto local roads, which were also experiencing significant flooding themselves.
“Between 8:30 and 10 a.m. we had 39 water rescues, 51 vehicle accidents (10 with injuries) and 48 disabled vehicles,” noted John Corcoran, deputy director, External Relations at Montgomery County Public Safety Department. “This was hitting just as the rush hour was winding down this morning. Our primary job is to make the 911 calls that dispatch the responders who go out and handle it. We try to put out warnings as much as we can, to tell people to be
safe and take precautions and what the hazards are. It’s been a couple of years since we’ve seen flash flooding like that,” he added.
As quickly as the deluge escalated, it was out of here and on its way to the Poconos, leaving behind hazy sunshine in much of the area. By 1:30 Upper Merion Township was noting that many roads around the township had reopened, but drivers were being asked to exercise caution please exercise caution when driving, “as there may be mud or debris that could still cause an issue. Never, ever drive around a barricade or blocked road, and please be aware that rainy weather is still expected and conditions can change rapidly,” the township posted on its Facebook page. “Please continue to be mindful of any water on roadways and do not drive around any barricades.”
The Upper Merion Community Center, which had closed down earlier, was back in business by 1:30 p.m.
The surrounding area, including Conshohocken, Norristown, East Norriton, West Norriton had also been affected by the storm. The DeKalb Street Bridge was closed due to flooding in the area of DeKalb and Washington streets, making the road impassable.
Sterigere Street and Harding Boulevard were closed due to heavy flooding, with Northbound Route 202 approaching Main Street in Norristown reduced to one lane traffic from the heavy flooding in the area of Main and Markley streets.
SEPTA had resumed normal pickup locations on its Norristown High Speed Line after bringing in shuttle buses for several locations, it was reported.
Although business was brisk as usual in other parts of the mall, the lower level of the Plaza at King of Prussia
Mall experienced its share of problems from unwanted water.
Fifty of the mall’s 450 stores were closed as of 3 p.m., including several restaurants in the food court, noted mall spokesman Michael McGrath.
“There were no injuries and no one’s safety was threatened or anything like that. The water has now receded but I don’t know when the stores will reopen,” he said. “If someone would like to visit a particular store, they should call that store ahead of time to see if it is open.”
The American Red Cross monitored flash flooding in Eastern Pennsylvania and stood ready to assist those affected by the heavy rain, according to a release. With a number of roads flooded, the Red Cross reminded everyone to never drive through a flooded roadway, noting that floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters. ”Flash floods occur suddenly, due to rapidly rising water along a stream
or low-lying area. The Red Cross has critical safety steps everyone should follow to help stay safe should flooding threaten their community,” the report indicated, adding that everyone should know the difference between a flood watch and warning. A flood or flash flood watch means either is possible in the area. A warning means flooding is already occurring or will occur soon.
The American Red Cross advised everyone to download the free Red Cross Emergency App to have safety information and shelter locations at their fingertips. It also features emergency weather alerts to help keep the user safe, and provides information about what to do in case of various disasters and the locations of open shelters. Red Cross apps are available in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.
For more information on highway closures visit 511PA.