Adolescent perishes following entrapment in a storm drain during a flood event
Recent days have seen a deluge of rain across the U.S. East Coast, causing flooding, emergency rescues, and even fatalities in several states. From the Southeast to the Northeast, the region has been hit hard by Tropical Storm Dexter, stalled cold fronts, and the remnants of powerful storms.
In the Southeast, states such as Alabama, Georgia, and Florida have faced deadly flooding. One confirmed death has been reported in Alabama, and numerous rescues have been necessary due to flooded roads. Central Georgia, around Macon and Albany, is forecasted to receive 5-8 inches of rain by Thursday, increasing flood risks [1].
Nearly 50 million people from Virginia to Connecticut are currently under flood alerts. Heavy rains have caused flooding, water rescues, and disruptions to travel [3]. New York City declared a state of emergency due to flash flooding that damaged infrastructure, including train tracks [4].
The city of New York, along with local officials, has urged people to stay off the roads and residents in basement apartments to move to higher locations, as rain is expected to continue through Friday afternoon [5]. By Friday morning, subways and commuter rail routes in the New York area were operating on normal schedules after some sections were affected by floodwaters [6].
Unfortunately, a 13-year-old boy died in Mount Airy, Maryland, after being trapped in a storm drain during heavy rainfall and flooding [7]. In another instance, an 8-year-old boy was standing on top of a submerged SUV while a woman and toddler were trapped inside in Montgomery County, Maryland [8]. All three individuals were successfully brought to safety in the incident in Montgomery County. People were also rescued from flooded cars in Joppatowne [9].
Parts of the Baltimore area received 2.5 to 4 inches of rain on Thursday, while isolated areas in Maryland received more rain, including 5 inches in Mount Airy and 6 inches in Joppatowne northeast of Baltimore [10]. Amtrak trains between Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware, were halted on Thursday evening due to high water over the tracks, but service was later restored, and water was receding from the tracks [11].
PowerOutage.us reported that thousands of homes and businesses along the Eastern Seaboard were without power on Friday morning, with approximately 5,000 in New York, 3,800 in Virginia, 2,500 in Maryland, and 2,500 in Pennsylvania [12].
Authorities are actively managing rescue operations and advising residents to prepare for ongoing rain and potential flooding, emphasizing caution on roads and awareness of changing weather conditions [1][3][4]. Safety precautions during these flooding events include avoiding crossing floodwaters or driving on water-covered roads, heeding local flood alerts and warnings, seeking higher ground immediately if in a flood-prone area, and having emergency supplies ready.
More storms might bring flash and urban flooding to the northern mid-Atlantic and southern New England through Friday night [13]. Residents are encouraged to stay informed and prepared for possible evacuations or emergency assistance.
- In the wake of heavy rain and flooding, authorities are urging residents in flood-prone areas to seek higher ground and remain vigilant about changing weather conditions, as more storms might bring flash and urban flooding to the northern mid-Atlantic and southern New England.
- Apart from general news, crime, and justice, weather-related incidents such as accidents due to flooded roads and weather-forecasting warnings about heavy rain and flood risks have extensively dominated the news in the East Coast region, particularly in states like Alabama, Georgia, Florida, New York, and Maryland, as a result of Tropical Storm Dexter and stalled cold fronts.
