The remnants of Hurricane Ida brought heavy flooding and damage to the region overnight and into Thursday morning.
In Wilmington, rescue crews continue their efforts to remove residents trapped in their homes by flood waters after the Brandywine Creek topped its banks. Early Thursday morning residents in the Rockland Hills Condominium community had to be rescued by swift-water rescues teams as the water rose several feet inside the community.
Not long after crews were called to the condominiums, crews responded to the area of Northeast Blvd. and 12th Street in east Wilmington. Crews have been entering neighborhoods by boat to rescue residents trapped in their homes throughout the morning.
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Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki’s spent the morning overseeing operations and surveying damage in various parts of the City from one of the most severe storms to hit Wilmington in recent memory, said the mayor’s office. He said Police and Fire personnel are working closely with the Department of Public Works and Parks and Recreation to respond to emergency calls and to ensure the safety of motorists, pedestrians, and residents.
“Obviously this terrible storm has caused serious flooding devastation throughout the City,” said the Mayor. “We are doing our very best to ensure that everybody is safe, first and foremost, and that we address the aftermath of this historic storm so that get things back to normal again.”
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Although much of the area around the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution is flooded the prison itself has not been flooded according to Paul Ford Jr., spokesman for the Maor’s office
The flooding forced the closure of the Brandywine Zoo closed. In a Facebook post staff said “the Zoo will be closed today, Thursday. All staff, animals, and habitats made it safely through last night’s severe weather. Brandywine Creek, located across the street from the Zoo in Brandywine Park, flooded the adjacent parking lot, up to the Josephine Fountain. As of of 9AM, water has not reached North Park Drive or the Zoo, but staff is monitoring the situation.”
Dramatic video captured the covered bridge on Smith Bridge Road, near the Pennsylvania state line, covered by the floodwaters.
According to Wilmington’s Emergency Management Director Willie J. Patrick, Jr., residents should remain at home if possible. If evacuation is necessary, residents can go to one of two emergency reception centers for assistance: the Police Athletic League (P.A.L.) at 3707 North Market Street, or William “Hicks” Anderson Community Center at 501 North Madison Street.
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Emergency Road Closures
South Park Drive, between Market Street and Van Buren Street
North Park Drive, between Van Buren Street and the Swinging Bridge
300 block of East 15th Street
Clifford Brown Walk, between East 14th Street and East 16th Street
16th Street Bridge
East 7th Street/7th Street Peninsula
Vandever Avenue in the area of Claymont Street and Bowers Street
North Market Street Bridge
E main st btw rt 273 and old Baltimore pike is closed due to flooding
Old Stanton Christiana Rd at Stanton Christiana Rd is closed due to flooding
Airport rd at nonsuch creek closed due to flooding
Ogletown rd is closed at Avon rd due to flooding
Rising Sun ln btw De-52 and De-141 is closed due to flooding
Old Stanton Christiana rd at Stanton Christiana rd is closed due to flooding
Airport Rd at nonsuch creek closed due to flooding
Ogletown Rd is closed at Avon Rd due to flooding
Rising Sun ln btw De-52 and De-141 is closed due to flooding
This is a developing story