Catastrophic flooding overtakes towns in Pennsylvania, as Debby's remnants lash Northeast
Tioga County Commissioner Shane Nickerson said the Board of Commissioners had issued a declaration of emergency. No injuries or fatalities to report at this time.
Firefighters wade through catastrophic flooding in Westfield, Pennsylvania to rescue family do
Rescues are being reported in the town of Westfield, Pennsylvania, as heavy rain from the remnants of Debby led to a serious flooding situation in the region. Watch as firefighters wade through floodwater in Westfield, Pennsylvania, on Friday to rescue a family pet.
WESTFIELD, Pa. – Widespread, catastrophic flooding occurred in northern Pennsylvania and parts of New York on Friday, with numerous homes and vehicles reported to have been swept away as post-tropical storm Debby unleashed its final fury on the Northeast.
"It's not looking good right now," a dispatcher with Crary Hose Company in Westfield told FOX Weather. "Our fire station is under 4 feet of water right now."
Tioga County Commissioner Shane Nickerson said the Board of Commissioners had issued a declaration of emergency, and the National Guard was en route for multiple rescues of people on roofs.
Multiple helicopters, hovercraft and dive rescue teams are assisting people trapped by the high water, Nickerson adds. About 100 people needed to be evacuated from different locations across the county.
Search and rescue operations underway in Pennsylvania following extensive flooding
Search and rescue teams checked on homes surrounded by water in Osceola, Pennsylvania, following the remnants of Hurricane Debby.
"We didn't expect this," Nickerson said. "It just came on so quickly … the sun is shining here in Tioga County now, which helps everything, and hopefully the waters are receding."
John Anderson, with the Wellsville Sun, has been covering the extensive flood damage in the county since it was first reported about mid-morning Friday. He echoed Nickerson in that the flood damage was a shock to everyone.
"We saw 100 bales of hay go by, complete trees just get uprooted and go, sheds were rushing by houses," Anderson said. "It was pretty bad. Obviously, vehicles are now underwater."
Water rescues were also reported in Allegany County, New York, where a Flash Flood Emergency was issued. According to the NWS, between 4 and 4.5 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 0.5 inches are possible in the warned area.
Catastrophic flooding reported in Pennsylvania, New York as Debby's remnants dump heavy rain
Rescues are being reported in the town of Westfield, Pennsylvania, as heavy rain from the remnants of Debby lead to a serious flooding situation in the region.
Several Tornado Warnings have been issued as the remnants of Debby spiral up the East Coast, including briefly near Washington.
Storms overnight Thursday into Friday morning caused damage in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, area, which had been hit hard by severe storms earlier this week that were unrelated to Debby. FOX Weather's Katie Byrne showed residents busy cleaning up debris Friday morning.
Trees damaged in Pennsylvania as Debby triggers nasty storms in Northeast
FOX Weather's Katie Byrne reports from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where residents are cleaning up debris left by severe storms caused by the remnants of Debby.
City Dock in downtown Annapolis, Maryland, was inundated Friday morning by nearly 3.5 feet of water from high tide enhanced by Debby's winds. The National Weather Service has issued a Coastal Flood Warning for several areas along the Chesapeake Bay, saying more flooding is expected during the day's second high tide.
Debby has caused dangerous surf conditions, including hazardous rip currents, longshore currents, and large wave activity, as seen along North Point State Park Crystal Pier in Edgemere, Maryland.
Debby has been a drencher, as the waterlogged Southeast is still feeling the impacts. River gauges are reading high Friday as numerous rivers from Florida to New York are either approaching or at flood stage.
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In Moncks Corner, South Carolina, a Flash Flood Emergency was issued Friday due to Debby. Evacuations have been ordered, and high-water rescues continued early Friday morning. Homes were flooded, and even more roads were closed due to 2-3 feet of fast-moving water. Emergency officials said they got 9 inches of rain during the event.
"Please note that an additional 2 inches of rain is forecasted for this afternoon, which may lead to further flooding due to the saturated ground and water in ditches," Moncks Corner Mayor Thomas Hamilton stressed on social media. "Please take necessary precautions to ensure your safety."
Flash Flood Emergencies are exceedingly rare and are only issued when there's a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage is occurring.
Due to the threat of additional flooding and severe weather, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for the entire state.
"We are prepared to deploy resources to areas affected by the severe weather caused by the remnants of Debby. Please stay safe, monitor your local forecasts, and keep off the roads," Hochul stated.
WATCH AS RESCUERS SAVE AMERICAN FLAG FROM DEBBY'S FURY
Debby brings heavy rains to Maryland, causing City Dock in Annapolis to flood
Flooding is seen in Annapolis, Maryland, as the remnants of Debby move across the northeastern U.S. on Friday morning.