Port Deposit & Havre De Grace Wait For Next Susquehanna Surge
HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. (WJZ)-- The flooded Susquehanna River is still surging into Maryland. In Port Deposit, buildings are covered in water as the river rushes through the floodgates of the Conowingo Dam. The water continues to rise along the Susquehanna River. In both Port Deposit and Havre de Grace, mandatory evacuation orders remain.
Meghan McCorkell has more on how people are faring there.
People are keeping a close eye as the water rises and falls with the tides. And the worst may be yet to come.
Entire towns are underwater as the Susquehanna River rises. The river is up to the windows at a grocery store. Boats are taking the place of cars in Port Deposit.
"It just takes your breath away. It's unbelievable," said one person.
Forty-four flood gates of the Conowingo Dam are expected to be open by noon Saturday.
"The power of this water is just absolutely incredible, something I've never seen in my life before, and something I hope I never see again because a lot of people are suffering from all this water," Capt. Mike Perry of Sky Eye Chopper 13 said.
People living along the water in Havre de Grace hope they dodge a bullet. During Hurricane Agnes in 1972, this area was devastated.
"It was up to the top of the promenade there," Rick Scunion of Havre de Grace said. "And they had a couple cars that were there at the time. They were floating in the water."
The water has started receding, but Friday night, everyone is waiting for the next high tide. BGE cut service to many in the flood zone Thursday night as a precaution. With sump pumps out, basements filled up.
"This morning it was like 12 inches of water. I stepped off of this step and it was deep," said Jack Lyons, whose basement had flooded.
As the water rises, residents are catching a glimpse of the damage as they anxiously await the second wave.
"This is Mother Nature," Scott Kingle of Havre de Grace said. "It's the price you've got to pay for living next to the water."
On Friday night, 35 gates were open at the Conowingo Dam. Gov. Martin O'Malley has requested a federal disaster declaration in Maryland to make federal resources available to those in the flood zone.
