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Sudden and Severe


Mar. 1, 2012

Flooding was sudden and severe last evening in Garrett County and the surrounding area, with more than two inches of rain falling in the late afternoon in heavy downpours that caused drainage overflows, flash-flooding, and probably thousands of wet basements.


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This photo was taken in Terra Alta, W.Va., by Matthew Friend of Oakland as he traveled through that town late yesterday afternoon. Several roads were closed at the peak of the storm, and some remained closed this morning in the southern part of the county, including Smouse Road. Debris covered most roadways this morning as well. The weather continues to be quite uncharacteristic for Garrett County, with warm temperatures and even thunder and lightning with yesterday’s Leap Day storm. Snow, a rare event this year, is predicted to fall Sunday, but the temperatures are to go back up Monday.

More here.

Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!

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Mud, dead fish replace lake after Iowa dam break


This story struck me when I read it. This lake was 9 miles in length (Deep Creek Lake is 7 miles) and both lakes were built in the mid 1920’s for hydro-electric power. Deep Creek is not fed by one main river, but many small streams. Still, the story is captivating to read:

By MICHAEL J. CRUMB, Associated Press Writer

Mon Jul 26, 5:33 pm ET
DES MOINES, Iowa – Acres of mud strewn with dead fish greeted hundreds of eastern Iowa residents Monday after a weekend dam break left their lakefront properties overlooking little more than a small stream.

The Lake Delhi dam in Delaware County gave way under the rapidly rising Maquoketa River on Saturday, decimating the nine-mile-long lake and adjacent property values.

“The water’s gone, dead fish are laying there on the bottom — it’s a pretty nasty looking scene,” said Irv Janey of Marion, who owns a condominium on Lake Delhi. “It was a beautiful recreation area and to see it drained, it just makes you sick.”

Heavy rains last week forced the river to unprecedented levels, causing earthen portions of the dam to collapse and sending a torrent of water rushing downstream. The concrete section of the dam remained intact, but the swollen river damaged about half the 1,000 homes and cabins above it. The lake quickly emptied…

Read the rest here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

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Swallow Falls in a Rage

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From the cover of the Republican News online:

Melting snow and days of rain created a dangerous situation in much of Garrett County Sunday and Monday, with flooding taking place in most waterways, some very serious. Swallow Falls, shown above, was nearly unrecognizable as the waters roiled up and over the riverbed on Monday. Muddy Creek, which flows into the Youghiogheny just downstream from the location above, became so swollen that it took out the bridge to the Youghiogheny Mountain Resort (YMR), which is the only entry to the area. For a short time, some residents were stranded there while others could not get home. A temporary bridge was put in place early this week, according to Brad Frantz at the Garrett County Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management, and the permanent one is to be installed early next week. The temporary bridge has a weight capacity that will allow any needed emergency vehicles, Frantz noted. He said while some roads were closed for a time because of flooding on Monday, there were no reports of injury or danger outside of the YMR situation. The temperatures went back down Wednesday, to the usual January weather in Garrett County. Snow is falling and will continue to fall for a few days, according to the forecast. Photo by Jim Riley.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Long & Foster Real Estate for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

County road crews pull the plug after rainfall

Basins, culverts cleared to remedy water-covered roads

From Staff Reports
Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — Water-covered roadways were reported in Garrett County at mid-afternoon Monday, prompting county road crews into action to unclog water basins and culverts.

“It’s kind of winding down now,” said Jay Moyer, superintendent of the Garrett County roads department. We had steady rain all through the night but we are expecting colder temperatures that will slow the melting.”

Foster, Blue Ribbon and Silver Knob roads were closed temporarily due to high water. Routes that remained passable but with water on the roadway included Boiling Springs, Garrett, Jasper Riley and Crellin Mine roads as of 3 p.m. A minor mudslide on White Rock Road was “cleared up” by county workers at that hour.

The Garrett County 911 center was not able to provide any information about the water-related emergencies.

In Grant County, W.Va., a flood warning remained in effect Monday evening. The South Branch of the Potomac River was expected to crest at Petersburg at 14 feet, one foot above flood stage, at 1 p.m., according to the Grant County 911 center. The emergency center said “no problems” had occurred from the rising waterways in the county as of mid-afternoon.

Schools were dismissed early in Hampshire County, W.Va., due to the potential for small streams to flood some secondary roads, according to a dispatcher at the 911 center. Flooding of the Potomac River in that county was not expected until Tuesday morning, he said.

Maryland Natural Resour-ces Police is advising the public to refrain from boating and other recreational uses of the Upper Potomac River, including creeks and streams due to hazardous water levels from Cumberland to Little Falls.

The advisory extends through Wednesday and will be updated at that time if necessary.

Flood warnings were posted by the National Weather Service at 6:30 p.m. Monday for the South Branch near Springfield, W.Va., and the Potomac at Paw Paw, W.Va.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Long & Foster Real Estate for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350