Evening star., 1937-11-13
Weather Bureau Reports
2.95-Inch Downpour,
Breaking 1877 Mark.
BlADENSBURG ROAD
AGAIN UNDER WATER
Rescue Squads Held Ready as
3 to 5 Inches of Water Floods
Business Houses.
(Picture on page A-12.)


A record rain during the last "a
hours sent small streams over their
banks to impede traffic in the Dis
trict and flood highways and houses,
driving scores of persons from their
homes, in nearby Maryland
The Weather Bureau reported that
2.95 inches of rain fell between 1885
pm. yesterday and 7:10 am. today,
smashing an 1877 record of 283 inches
for a 24-hour period in November.
The rain here was much heavier
than elsewhere in the Potomac River
basin, and the Weather Bureau fore
saw no serious flood danger unless
there Is more rainfall
\ The forecast called for generally
fair and slightly colder weather to-
night. with q minimum temperature
Of about 46, and continued fair and
colder tomorrow and tomorrow night.
Major damage this morning was re-
ported in Prince Georges County, Md,
particularly in low sections around
Bladensburg Brentwood and Ed
monSton.
The Riverdale rescue squad rescued
20 persons from flooded homes in North
Brentwood and began moving several
families from inundated sections in
the Bladensburg area, where it was
feared the water would rise still higher
at high tide this afternoon.
More than so persons were reported
to have fed their homes in the Ed
| monston area. as surging waters from
the Eastern Branch of the Anacostia
River rose to feet in street that
once was the river bed. The general
store in the community closed when
water covered the floor.
Nearly 6 inches of water stood in
several business houses at Bladens-
burg. Postmaster o. Howard Brown
said it was within few inches of the
post ofice floor and he might have to
move out.
The food water was running 3 feet
deep over Bladensburg road at the
Peace Cross. Police and firemen we're
posted before daylight to route traffic
around the flooded area, and Bladens-
burg road was closed to traffc shortly
after 8 am.
Commissioner Vincent A. Ostermar OF
Bladensburg and group of Army en-
gineers were making q survey of the
hood damage In Prince Georges
County this morning, as citizens or
gani1ed to demand action to curb the
high waters that have ravaged the
area four times In the last three
months.
Rock Greek Out Of Banks.
In the District, Rock Creek swirled
out OF its banks to cover the Rock
Creek Parkway at the Massachusetts
avenue underpass. forcing park police
to close this traffic artery this morn
ing. Beach drive also was closed
from Blagden avenue to Park road.
Harbor police said the Potomac
River surged up 18 inches over the
catwalk at the police boathouse at
high tide early today and also went
over the seawall at Hams Point, but
soon receded.
Water from overhowing creeks in
the low-lying sections of Northeast
Washington covered the yards of sew
eral homes, flooded easements and
temporarily halted trafic on some
Of the streets. AT Forty-fourth and
Hayes street NE, the water was 2
feet deep across the road for a short
time early today. The food water
fell back in this section shortly after
dawn.
Drainage from the numerous small
streams flowing into the Potomac near
here probably will cause the river to
reach its peak at high tide at 3:39
pm. today, the Weather Bureau said,
but rains were not heavy enough up
stream to threaten serious flood
danger. The river here was only 81
feet above normal at low tide this
morning.
Although the rain that began yes
terday set a record for November, it
fell far short of an all-month record