Published: May 05, 2009 12:29 am      

Rain prompts flood warning

CUMBERLAND — With a flood warning posted by the National Weather Service, emergency centers in Allegany and Mineral counties fielded numerous weather-related calls Monday, ranging from flooded basements to water-covered roadways.

More than 3 inches of rain has fallen in Cumberland in the last week, including 2.12 inches from 7 a.m. Sunday to Monday at noon, according to Tim Thomas, local observer with the National Weather Service.

No injuries were reported by early Monday afternoon as rain continued to fall in downtown Cumberland with an additional inch of rain possible before evening, according to the National Weather Service.

“Drainage problems” at about noon Monday closed a section of Fayette Street between Karns Avenue and Digman Alley, according to the Allegany County 911 Joint Communications Division.

Thomas said he measured .65 of an inch of rain that fell within a three-hour period Monday morning.

“We had .42 inches of rain the last two days of April and 2.60 inches so far this month,” said Thomas.

The Potomac River at Wiley Ford, W.Va., was measured at 16.4 feet at 9:15 p.m. Monday, prompting a flood warning through Tuesday morning. Flood stage there is 17 feet.

In the Barton area, a large tree fell into Laurel Run, “blocking and damming the stream,” at abut 11:30 a.m. Monday.

Barton Hose Company and the Allegany County Roads Department were dispatched to attempt to remove the tree from the stream, according to the 911 center.

At 12:40 p.m., the emergency center also dispatched first-responders to the 13000 block of Barrelville Road where a large tree was reportedly blocking both lanes of the highway.

In Mineral County, the 911 center handled 41 weather-related calls from 6:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Monday, prompting response of numerous volunteer fire companies and the West Virginia Department of Highways.

“We have reports of Patterson Creek out of its banks at Burlington and New Creek on U.S. Route 50 at Timberlake Estates,” said Sharon Montgomery, Mineral County 911 deputy director.

The emergency center also fielded a number of calls concerning “ditches washing out and flooding the roadway” and various calls for reports of flooded basements.

A flood watch was posted in Grant County until 10 p.m. Monday for localized flooding, according to the National Weather Service.

Schools reportedly closed early in Grant, Hampshire, Hardy and Morgan counties as a result of continuing rain and reports of water on roadways at various locations.

However, the Hampshire County 911 center reported “no problems” by early afternoon Monday.

In Garrett County, Big Run Road in the New Germany State Park area was closed due to high water Monday.

Although no other roads were reported closed by early afternoon, standing water was reportedly on Steyer Mine Road, Sand Springs Road and Bittinger Road among other locations in the county, according to the Garrett County 911 center.

Heavy rain in Somerset County, Pa., caused a road on Mount Davis and one in Rockwood Borough to be closed.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources issued an advisory for the Upper Potomac River stating that boating and other recreational uses of the river from Cumberland to Little Falls should be avoided.

The advisory was posted through Friday due to the recent precipitation and based on information from the National Weather Service and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency.

Contact Jeffrey Alderton at jlalderton@times-news.com.