More Than 25 Rescued From Montgomery Flood Waters: Officials

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — After heavy rain drenched Montgomery County Monday morning, officials remind drivers that if they see flooded roadways, they should turn around; don't drown. There is a flood warning for Seneca Creek at Dawsonville until Tuesday morning.

A trained spotter reported 5.5 inches of rainfall in North Potomac before 9:30 a.m. on Monday, July 8. The measurement was taken during a flash flood that swept through the region, slamming parts of Montgomery County in particular with inundated roadways.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services personnel handled about 250 calls for service in a three-hour period, from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday. Normally, the department receives 350 calls in an entire day, according to spokesman Pete Piringer.

About 40 to 50 calls were for possible water rescues, he said. While in many cases people were able to get out on their own, more than 25 people were rescued by Montgomery County crews, from approximately 15 to 20 of the incidents. In most instances, the rescues were from cars.

SEE ALSO: Sinkhole Washes Out Road To Potomac Homes

Approximately 3 to 6 inches of rain had fallen along the Interstate 270 corridor and surrounding areas Monday morning, officials reported before 10:30 a.m. Emergency management personnel reported widespread flash flooding in Montgomery County as of 10:22 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.

The Montgomery County Emergency Operations Center was partially activated from 8:45 to 11:15 a.m. due to flooding in the county, where emergency personnel had performed more than a dozen water rescues before 8:20 a.m.

Small streams, creeks, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other drainage areas and low-lying spots are likely to flood.

"Flooding is imminent on Rock Creek and Accotink Creek, with significant walls of water expected to be moving downstream on rapid rises," weather officials warned before 10:30 a.m.

Residents living along streams and creeks should take immediate precautions to protect life and property.

Drivers should exercise extreme caution due to flooded roads. In Potomac, there was a sinkhole reported on Belfast Road.

A flood warning was in effect until 6 p.m. Monday, replacing the flash flood warning, stating that these locations may flood: Arlington, Alexandria, Germantown, Rockville, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Bowie, Clinton, Olney, College Park, Fort Washington, Greenbelt, Langley Park, Beltsville, Fort Hunt, Damascus, Forestville, Lowes Island, Largo and Coral Hills.

Earlier, a flash flood warning was in effect until 1:45 p.m. on Monday, July 8.

See the latest state road closure information from the Maryland Department of Transportation.

No less than 12 active water rescues were underway by 8:20 a.m., particularly in North Potomac and Germantown areas, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer said. He said storm drains are overwhelmed, and roads are flooded in several places.

Flash flooding was occurring before 8 a.m. from Germantown east in Montgomery County, where 2 inches of rain fell in less than an hour, and a total of 2 to 4 inches of rain have been reported, according to the National Weather Service.