Montco Declares Disaster Emergency; 1 Person Remains Missing

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — A disaster emergency was declared in Montgomery County on Wednesday following Tuesday's destructive and fatal storm, clearing the way for the possibility of additional funding and assistance. One child has died in the county, and another person who was swept into the Schuylkill River remains missing.

Tropical Storm Isaias left significant and widespread damage in the county, with historically high flood waters in the Schuylkill River and Perkiomen Creek destroying swaths of property, carrying away vehicles, and shutting down roads. A total of eight and half inches of rainfall was measured in the county, officials said.

Emergency responders answered more than 5,000 911 calls and performed 134 water rescues countywide, saving numerous residents from flooded homes and stranded vehicles. The storm resulted in tragedy as well, when a five-year-old was found dead Wednesday in Towamencin after going missing during the height of the storm Tuesday afternoon.

The missing individual was lost in the river near the Spring Mill SEPTA station in Whitemarsh Township Tuesday afternoon. First responders, with the assistance of helicopters, have searched the river down into Philadelphia and had not discovered anything as of Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

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High winds also brought down hundreds of trees, and many electrical lines, leaving 64,000 without power at the height of the storm and more than 10,000 without power late Wednesday.

Two tornadoes touched down in the Philadelphia area on Wednesday, including one in Montgomery County. Officials said it was not clear yetexactly where the tornadoes touched down, and that National Weather Service investigators were tracking two "long lines of potential activity that cross multiple townships," Commissioner Val Arkoosh said.

A maximum wind of 50 miles per hour was clocked at 1:35 p.m. at the intersection of Route 309 and I-276 and in Upper Dublin.

By declaring a disaster emergency, the county is now able to collect data from first responders and county residents to determine the total extent of damage to property. If the federal government or Gov. Wolf declare a state of emergency due to the storm, the county will now have the legal right to pursue reimbursement for these damages.

This will help both the hundreds of first responders who helped protect the county during the storm Tuesday, as well as the many residents who suffered significant property damage.

Arkoosh said that any resident who has lost or damaged property should document that with pictures and details as thoroughly as possible, and notify both their insurance company and their local municipality.