Recent Incidents 14 Water Rescues During 6 Day Rain Storm June 26th, 2006, 11:29 PM

Heavy rains soak soggy county

Downpour floods streets, basements

Monday's heavy rain caused all sorts of problems throughout Lancaster County, keeping emergency response teams on their toes all evening.

Dave Wiker, night shift supervisor at the county's emergency communications center in Manheim, said flood-related calls began to pour in between 8:30 and 9 p.m.

"There's been flood calls coming in from Conestoga, West Earl Township and around New Holland Avenue," he said. "It's like, if you drew a line straight up in the middle of the county, that's where the rain's been the heaviest."

There were water rescues reported at Wabank Road near Rabbit Hill Lane, Pleasure Road and New Holland Avenue and the Bloomingdale and Blossom Valley developments in Manheim Township. No serious injuries were reported.

There also were numerous calls from residents reporting water in their basements.

The downpour also broke up the Lancaster Barnstormers baseball game at Clipper Magazine Stadium, sending fans sprinting back to their cars under umbrellas and raincoats.

State College AccuWeather meteorologist Josh Newhard said residents can expect the soaking to continue through Wednesday.

"There's going to be waves of showers and thunderstorms until that time," he said. "There's a stationary funnel boundary over the area that's not going anywhere, so things are blocked up."

In other words, there could be periods of rain until Saturday, though Newhard said it should at least ease up by then.

"The rains are going to be the heaviest now until Wednesday," he said. "And it will stay humid and sticky."

He said Thursday should be seasonably warm with intervals of clouds and sunshine and a possible night shower or thunderstorm.

"Friday, residents can expect some sun, with possible thunderstorms," Newhard said. "So, even after Wednesday, people shouldn't expect things to be completely high and dry.

"Saturday is expected to be cloudy and there are chances of thunderstorms on Sunday," he said.

Newhard said if residents can brave the rain until Wednesday, the rest of the week should be a breeze.

"The showers we'll get later in the week will be casual in comparison," he said. "Though, if you hate rain, you still won't be happy."

Three to 6 inches of rain is expected to have fallen on the county by the middle of the week.