(Dec. 29, 2016) While much of the state, and the East Coast, were focused on the possibility of a direct hit by Hurricane Matthew, Pocomoke City and Snow Hill were struck by strong thunderstorms that flooded the towns.
However, the effects weren’t felt simultaneously. Pocomoke City’s storm hit on Sept. 19, and by late afternoon, flood waters had crossed Route 113’s southbound lanes north of Pocomoke City in at least two places, Route 756 was about to be shut down, and both Market Street and Clarke Avenue were closed in places due to the rising water from the storm.
By Tuesday morning, City Manager/City Attorney Ernie Crofoot said things have calmed down, and the flash flooding had started to subside. He said cleanup efforts were underway.
“The combination of the volume of rain, the short time factor and the fact that stormwater mitigation swales and other measures can only hold so much water led to the flooding,” Crofoot said.
Reports of a lightning strike at Pocomoke’s Hartley Hall were confirmed by Gary Crowley, administrator. The strike did not hit the center itself, but nearby, causing minor issues but not interrupting services to residents. Though the flooding was severe near Hartley Hall, the facility did not take on water, Crowley said.
“The heavy rain was a result of many ingredients coming together over Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore on Monday,” Ava Marie, morning meteorologist at WBAL, said. “There was a low pressure system spinning off the coast of North Carolina, left over from what was once Tropical Storm Julia. That low carried moisture into Maryland’s atmosphere, giving the setup for heavy rain.”
A cold front approaching from the west helped center the storm over the lower shore, she said.
“Pocomoke City experienced rainfall rates of one to three inches per hour for several hours and the radar estimates up to seven inches of rain fell in just 12 hours on Monday,” Marie said.
Crofoot said local estimates were in the 10-inch range.
“While it caused flooding in the short term, this helped make a huge dent in the drought that was forming in the region,” Marie said.
Days later, another storm hit Snow Hill, flooding much of the north end of town and washing out a portion of Snow Hill Road that would remain impassible until late November.
“The area has a bunch of 42-inch drainage pipes that were scheduled to be replaced next year,” Charlie Gischlar, spokesman for the State Highway Administration said at the time. “We’re also addressing areas with lane washouts with rip rap — those aren’t a big deal,” he said. “In other cases, it’s like trying to hold back the ocean with a broom.”
The sandy yet waterlogged soil began washing away causing a sinkhole in the road, which quickly widened into a total breach.
“That was first built 30 to 50 years ago,” Gischlar said at the time. “We use different materials and methodologies now. We’ll have to do the design and get the materials. We’re very cognizant of what needs to happen, but we may not start until after we know what Matthew is going to do, because then all of our work may be for naught.”
Whiton Crossing Road, Porter’s Crossing Road, Algonquin Trail and Nassawango Road were all closed during and after the storm.
The Pocomoke River engulfed nearby Byrd Park almost entirely, and the surging river caused a “combined sewage overflow” of more than 10,000 gallons at the adjacent wastewater treatment plant. Residents were warned to avoid contact with the floodwaters due to this, and other, contamination.
“To put it in perspective here in Worcester, we have a washout of whatever was in the flood zone potentially washing into the river. You have solids: logs, branches, debris, even natural scat like deer spoor if they lay in an area that was washed out,” Bob Mitchell, director of environmental services for Worcester County said. “There are many contributing elements to what is in the creek in the churning floodwaters that are moving through our county at the present.”
Though Wicomico, Salisbury and other points northward of Snow Hill in Maryland weren’t seeing overflow from wastewater treatment plants, the water washing down to Snow Hill was undoubtedly dirty and residents were warned to keep clear. After several days the water began to recede.
Drivers had two routes to get north to Salisbury from Snow Hill. The official detour took commuters down Old Furnace Road onto Millville Road, which merged back into Snow Hill Road. Perhaps less well known was another route, from Mt. Olive Church Road eventually onto Airport Road and back onto Snow Hill Road.
Snow Hill Road remained impassible for weeks, but after more than one month of winding, weaving and exploring the back roads between Snow Hill and Salisbury, the most direct route between the towns was finally reopened to traffic on Nov. 18.
However, the effects weren’t felt simultaneously. Pocomoke City’s storm hit on Sept. 19, and by late afternoon, flood waters had crossed Route 113’s southbound lanes north of Pocomoke City in at least two places, Route 756 was about to be shut down, and both Market Street and Clarke Avenue were closed in places due to the rising water from the storm.
By Tuesday morning, City Manager/City Attorney Ernie Crofoot said things have calmed down, and the flash flooding had started to subside. He said cleanup efforts were underway.
“The combination of the volume of rain, the short time factor and the fact that stormwater mitigation swales and other measures can only hold so much water led to the flooding,” Crofoot said.
Reports of a lightning strike at Pocomoke’s Hartley Hall were confirmed by Gary Crowley, administrator. The strike did not hit the center itself, but nearby, causing minor issues but not interrupting services to residents. Though the flooding was severe near Hartley Hall, the facility did not take on water, Crowley said.
“The heavy rain was a result of many ingredients coming together over Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore on Monday,” Ava Marie, morning meteorologist at WBAL, said. “There was a low pressure system spinning off the coast of North Carolina, left over from what was once Tropical Storm Julia. That low carried moisture into Maryland’s atmosphere, giving the setup for heavy rain.”
A cold front approaching from the west helped center the storm over the lower shore, she said.
“Pocomoke City experienced rainfall rates of one to three inches per hour for several hours and the radar estimates up to seven inches of rain fell in just 12 hours on Monday,” Marie said.
Crofoot said local estimates were in the 10-inch range.
“While it caused flooding in the short term, this helped make a huge dent in the drought that was forming in the region,” Marie said.
Days later, another storm hit Snow Hill, flooding much of the north end of town and washing out a portion of Snow Hill Road that would remain impassible until late November.
“The area has a bunch of 42-inch drainage pipes that were scheduled to be replaced next year,” Charlie Gischlar, spokesman for the State Highway Administration said at the time. “We’re also addressing areas with lane washouts with rip rap — those aren’t a big deal,” he said. “In other cases, it’s like trying to hold back the ocean with a broom.”
The sandy yet waterlogged soil began washing away causing a sinkhole in the road, which quickly widened into a total breach.
“That was first built 30 to 50 years ago,” Gischlar said at the time. “We use different materials and methodologies now. We’ll have to do the design and get the materials. We’re very cognizant of what needs to happen, but we may not start until after we know what Matthew is going to do, because then all of our work may be for naught.”
Whiton Crossing Road, Porter’s Crossing Road, Algonquin Trail and Nassawango Road were all closed during and after the storm.
The Pocomoke River engulfed nearby Byrd Park almost entirely, and the surging river caused a “combined sewage overflow” of more than 10,000 gallons at the adjacent wastewater treatment plant. Residents were warned to avoid contact with the floodwaters due to this, and other, contamination.
“To put it in perspective here in Worcester, we have a washout of whatever was in the flood zone potentially washing into the river. You have solids: logs, branches, debris, even natural scat like deer spoor if they lay in an area that was washed out,” Bob Mitchell, director of environmental services for Worcester County said. “There are many contributing elements to what is in the creek in the churning floodwaters that are moving through our county at the present.”
Though Wicomico, Salisbury and other points northward of Snow Hill in Maryland weren’t seeing overflow from wastewater treatment plants, the water washing down to Snow Hill was undoubtedly dirty and residents were warned to keep clear. After several days the water began to recede.
Drivers had two routes to get north to Salisbury from Snow Hill. The official detour took commuters down Old Furnace Road onto Millville Road, which merged back into Snow Hill Road. Perhaps less well known was another route, from Mt. Olive Church Road eventually onto Airport Road and back onto Snow Hill Road.
Snow Hill Road remained impassible for weeks, but after more than one month of winding, weaving and exploring the back roads between Snow Hill and Salisbury, the most direct route between the towns was finally reopened to traffic on Nov. 18.