Thunderstorms, Lightning Strikes & Rain Blamed for many Sussex County Issues….

Oak Orchard – Long Neck, Del.- The Indian River Volunteer Fire Company provided many hours of volunteerisms and community service during the periods of inclement weather that commences as much needed rain during the early afternoon hours of Saturday, August 26th and ended with dumping approximately 9 inches of rain in the Oak Orchard-Long Neck communities…

Indian River provides this photographic log of various community conditions which included but not limited to the following locations within our immediate fire district:

• John J. Williams Highway @ Banks Road (adjacent to the Verizon Building);
• John J. Williams Highway @ Mother Mary Peace Catholic Church (intersection of Oak Orchard Road, Mount Joy Road and John J. Williams Highway);
• Cerise Lane – Oak Orchard;
• Delaware Avenue – Oak Orchard;
• Driftwood Village;
• Baywood Green;
• John J. Williams Highway near the Pines of Long Neck;
• John J. Williams Highway between Bay Farm Road and American Legion Road;
• John J. Williams Highway @ Bayshore Drive (Super Giant Store);
• Mercer Avenue – Oak Orchard;
• Russell Avenue, Oak Orchard;
• River Road, Oak Orchard & Riverdale views;
• River Winds (formerly Oak Orchard West);
• Myrtle Avenue – Oak Orchard;
• Oak Meadows;
• Robinsonville Road off of John J. Williams Highway (82's fire district);
• River Village - Oak Orchard; and
• Orchard Manor.

Additional information may be viewed via the following websites: River Road - Frame’s Point;

(1) The News Journal – www.delawareonline.com

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20120827/NEWS/308270045/Sussex-swamped-sudden-storm?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Home

Sussex swamped with sudden storm

Rehoboth Beach hit with more than 7 inches of rain

It was the southeastern corner of Sussex County that felt the brunt of the heavy rains that fell from Saturday night until after sunrise Sunday.

Nowhere was the deluge felt more powerfully than along the waterfront at Rehoboth Beach, when a city storm drain backup turned six inches of water collected in the underground parking garage at the Brighton Suites into a 4 ½-foot flood in about 35 minutes, according to J.J. Kleitz, the night manager.

“My basement garage was completely flooded out,” he said, noting that 1st Street was already under about 2 feet of water. “We had about two dozen vehicles that I physically towed out with my own personal vehicle last night ... that are just completely fried.

“Coming down so fast on that ramp that it swept me right off my feet at one time,” Kleitz said.

The Rehoboth Beach area received 7.21 inches of rain, said Greg Heavener, a National Weather Service meteorologist. The Delaware Environmental Observing System website reported 6.89 inches was measured at Selbyville.

A total of 4.83 inches fell at Delmar, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Lee Robertson. The heaviest rain fell before 7 a.m. Sunday, he said.

The storms weren’t all that windy, downstate observers said. But they packed a wallop. In addition to widespread downstate flooding, the state fire marshal’s office reported seven fires in Sussex County from midday Saturday to Sunday afternoon that were caused by lightning.

“We had a fantastic light show here, from about 8 o’clock until at least 1 or 1:30,” said Linda Welch of Selbyville, which was also inundated. “Very little wind, but a lot of rain.”

The fires caused more than $1.2 million in damage. An eighth fire was under investigation Sunday afternoon.

Reader Mandy Hess reported on delawareonline’s Facebook page that neighbors of her parents had to evacuate in Oak Orchard and that the electric company had to shut off power. “My parents and the rest of ... River Road near Atillios Restaurant Totally Under Water,” she wrote.

Torrential rain also swept up the East Coast Sunday. But the storms largely steered west of the state, Robertson said.

About 10 p.m. Sunday there were about 30 Delmarva Power customers without power, down significantly from the more than 2,500 early Sunday.

Robertson said the forecast calls for a 30-40 percent change of showers and thunderstorms through Monday night before ending Tuesday, as a cold front moves through the region. The rest of the week is expected to be largely dry, he said.

(2) WGMD Radio 92.7 – www.wgmd.com

http://www.wgmd.com/?p=67587

River Road In Oak Orchard Remains Closed as of Monday, August 27th.

River Road in Oak Orchard remains closed today due to heavy rain that fell Saturday, causing the road to flood.

Residents are asked to use caution when driving on low-lying roads in Sussex County today; some roads may still be flooded.