| LTFD.org Recent Incidents LTFD responded to 18 emergency calls during Tropical Storm Tammy on the weekend of October 7-9. Boat 6-6 was dispatched to 7 water rescue calls including one on Rice Road in Lancaster Township. The Conestoga River flooded the 2000 block of Rice Road during the storm. At 6 a.m. on Sunday October 9, unaware the of the flooded roadway in the darkness of the night, the driver of a black Dodge Durango SLT delivering newspapers, drove into the flooded river. Three occupants of the vehicle swam to the lawn of 2081 Rice Road where the residence rendered assistance and called 911. Remnants of Tropical Storm Tammy that soaked most of the East Coast also piped gargantuan amounts of water into Lancaster County. The onslaught inundated roads and basements. It booted streams out of their banks and brought Lancaster County's lingering dry spell to a squishy halt. The Lancaster County commissioners declared a state of emergency and asked people to get off the roads Saturday after rainfall topped 10 inches in some areas. More than 100 rural roads were closed by Saturday night. The Conestoga River was slightly above its 11-foot flood stage at 9 p.m. Saturday, according to the Weather Service. Moderate flooding was expected as the river crests at 14 feet this morning and then falls below flood stage this afternoon. Weekend precipitation started as on-and-off showers Friday morning and then fell in buckets Saturday before finally tapering off to light showers overnight. Rainfall totals varied from 3 to 6 inches here Friday and Saturday, according to the Weather Service. But much heavier rainfall totals appeared to impact the central, southern and northeastern parts of the county. Rainfall measured at Martic Forge was 12.5 inches of precipitation. Adamstown reported 8.5 inches, an automated gauge at Truce registered 10.49. New Holland reported 10.6 inches from 7 a.m. Friday to 9 p.m. Saturday. © Copyright 2004 by Lancaster Township Fire Department |