Manassas Sees Worst Flooding in Years

"There's nothing you can do, it just happens so fast," said Margaret Rogers, whose basement was filled with half a foot of water Thursday afternoon.

Rogers lives in a Prince William County flood zone, very close to where Bull Run Creek and a local runoff tributary meet.

Just yesterday the local waterways had "not passed the creek lines" according to Rogers. But with today's continuous, heavy downpours, the water had reached her home.

Rogers said when the area sees a lot of rain the tributary often gets clogged up and comes across Amherst Drive and right into her yard, and eventually into her home.

She has lived in the home since 1993 and her basement has flooded three times in the past 10 years.

"Four or five years ago it was worse than this," she said.

Rogers said she is hopeful her appliances that are located in the downstairs of her home will still work when the water recedes.

Dulce, who lives next door to the Roger family said she and her family just moved to the home a few months ago and has never experienced flooding like this.

Just the roof of her outdoor shed is above water (see photos) and her basement has about two inches of water on the floor after the creek sent water up through her yard Thursday afternoon. 

Dulce said she and her family are going to stay with relatives because they can't live in the home. 

"There's too much water," she said.

One resident said the area has flooded about five times since 1972. And while the water reached his front yard this time around, in '72, he said, it went up over the top of his neighbor's house.

Officials closed Amherst Drive last night as the water rushed over the local roadway and again Thursday afternoon. They eventually opened one lane of the road, before reopening the entire road shortly before 5 p.m..