After Ida unleashes tornadoes and rain
After Hurricane Ida’s remnants pounded the region overnight, morning photographs showed destruction in the Philadelphia area on Thursday, with rivers overflowing and highways waterlogged.
The Schuylkill River overflowed and flooded the Vine Street Expressway, a major route in Center City, making many people’s morning commutes a muddy mess or impossible.
According to City Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel, his crew is currently in rescue mode, and cleanup work will take some time.
“It’ll take a long time to clean up and recover,” Thiel said.
“This is a once-in-a-generation deluge, a once-in-a-lifetime disaster.”
The district says that schools opening at 8:30 a.m. or 9 a.m. delayed by two hours due to traffic conditions.
Officials claimed that due to the continuous threat of flooding, all public facilities were ordered closed on Thursday, and the staff was urged to work from home.
Despite City Hall’s overall advice for Philadelphians to stay at home, public schools opened.
“We see ourselves as a critical service,” said William Hite, head of the Philadelphia School District.
“We believed it was critical that schools remain open.”
The school system subsequently stated that all Friday instruction is done online a few hours later.
Mayor Jim Kenney refused to comment on the decision by the school district to open classroom doors.
“I mean, hindsight is always 20/20,” Kenney added, “but everyone appears to be safe.”
At least three storm-related deaths were reported in Montgomery County, a Philadelphia suburb, according to Board of Commissioners Chair Dr. Valerie Arkoosh.
The victims’ identities and how they die have revealed.
According to Arkoosh, the county’s 911 system has received more than 6,500 calls for assistance since 11 a.m.
Wednesday, which is three times the average 24-hour period.
(2.37) inches of rain fell in downtown Philadelphia,( 3.27) inches in North Philadelphia, and between 6 and 8 inches in the suburbs.
The Schuylkill River, streams, and sewer systems were overwhelmed by the speed and severity of the rain, which fell in a compressed few hours after 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Early Thursday, the water crest near 30th Street at more than 16 feet, much over what is consider a major flood at 15.5 feet or a moderate flood at 13 feet.
more:
Teterboro remains closed, and Newark airport reopens
source:
Video shows destruction in the Philadelphia area after Ida unleashes tornadoes, rain
