Some residents in Delaware County return to homes after flooding forced nearly 30 evacuations
COLLINGDALE, Pa. (CBS) -- Some residents in Delaware County returned to their homes after heavy rain overnight forced them to evacuate. Collingdale police chief Patrick Kilroy said nearly 30 people had to leave their homes.
Crews were on the scene with heavy equipment attempting to get Darby Creek flowing again. The water is up to the bottom of a bridge.
Kilroy said just after 3 a.m. Monday, police had to evacuate about six people from their homes. Across Springfield Road in Collingdale, the chief said 20 to 25 others were evacuated on Florence Avenue.
"It's just crazy," said Geraldine, who lives on Florence Avenue. "It's the first time I've ever seen it, and I've been on that block for like 20 years."
Kilroy said a stream that feeds into Darby Creek backed up, flooding homes and the Cappuccino Connection warehouse. He said there was several feet of water in some of the buildings, and that this is some of the worst flooding he's seen in his time.
"It's backed up over the years," Kilroy said, "but never to the extent that it has today. The last time that I recall in my time here in the borough, in '99, Hurricane Floyd. We had to evacuate Florence Avenue then, but that was attributed to the Darby Creek flooding and not specifically that small stream."
Everyone who was evacuated is being sheltered at the Darby Recreation Center while crews work to clear out the creeks, debris from under the MacDade Boulevard Bridge and drains to get the water flowing again.
Residents there recall being woken up by pounding on their doors and flashing lights. Some even had to scoop up their pets and head out on a boat.
While officials say flooding on Florence Avenue is rare, it's far from the first time Darby Creek has spilled over. Now, some residents want answers.
"They can take care of this," said Rich Moore, who lives on Springfield Road. "All they have to do is dredge out that creek. But nobody wants to do it."
Borough manager Mark Possenti says work has been done to help with the flooding. They've replaced the MacDade Boulevard Bridge and even shifted the creek. As for dredging, he says it's something they'll consider.
"Yeah, we would have to discuss it with the Army Corps of Engineers and so on," Possenti said. "So yeah, that'll be something to look into."
There's no timetable on when the people who live on Florence Avenue will be able to get back into their homes.