Flooding leaves Quakertown residents cleaning up after water fills basements and streets
QUAKERTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- Residents in Quakertown, Bucks County, spent Wednesday cleaning up and pumping water from their homes after flooding inundated parts of the borough, filling basements, covering streets and stranding vehicles.
Along Fourth Street, Bill and Ana Dietz dealt with water that flooded their basement overnight. While the water stopped before reaching the first floor, the flooding left significant damage.
"We're pumping water out with two pumps. It's obviously not enough," Bill Dietz said.
Ana Dietz said she stayed awake through the night as water surrounded their home.
"All over. I mean all over. We had water to the door," she said.
A debris line on the home's vinyl siding showed how high the water had risen. The family said flooding is not a new problem, but the latest event has taken a toll.
"It's overwhelming. We love this place but want to move," Ana Dietz said.
The Borough of Quakertown declared a flood emergency on Tuesday night after water flooded streets, filled basements and stranded cars.
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Eric Dickerson described heavy rainfall that led to flooding throughout the neighborhood.
"Started slow and came down. Total storm. Never stopped. Came down so much it flooded the neighborhood," Dickerson said.
Floodwaters covered the street at Fifth and Juniper, and vehicles were flooded at Fourth Street and Park Avenue.
"There was a car stuck in the water. They couldn't even move it," Dickerson said.
Residents also pointed to an oil tank that had been swept from a yard and carried into a nearby parking lot by the floodwaters.
"This guy is out on a mission trip, and for that to come this close and stop. It came out of nowhere. It stopped right here. That's an act of God. He's out doing the Lord's work," Dickerson said.
There was no immediate word on the owner of the oil tank.
Residents said they were grateful that no injuries had been reported, though many now face the task of repairing property damaged by the flooding.
