Evening star., 1952-11-22
City Mops Up
After Floods,
60-Mi|e Winds
Widespread Storm
Jams Traffic, Causes
Many Accidents

and repairing scattered damage
today in the wake of a 6O-hour.
widespread wind and rain storm.
The continuous downpour which
ran up more than four and a half
inches of precipitation in the last
three days was letting up today,
and winds of gale force had
|abated.
Many roads in the outlying
areas remained flooded over the
low sections. however, although
main highways in and around
Washington were open to traffic,
The central area of the storm
which swept the Middle Atlantic
States was moving northwestward
over Ohio today. Snow and sleet
developed in mountainous sections
as the storm moved inland.
More Rain Likely Today.
The forecast is for additional
but scattered rain today, accom-
panied by cooler and cloudy
weather with a low tonight of
about So degrees. Tomorrow
should be partly cloudy and cool.
The Potomac along Hams Point
and the waterfront was rising
toward the seawalls again today
after flooding some park sections
last night during high tide. An
eaSterly gale of 60-mile velocity
backed the water into the river
and raised the Potomac 4 feet
above normal.
The recent heavy rains were
general over the entire Potomac
basin. and the river was expected
to reach high-water crest early
tomorrow morning.
The river above tidewater prob
ably will rise or 10 feet above
its normal level before it begins to
recede.
Main tributaries of the river
were still rising today, although
headwater streams had reached
their peak.
Last nights flooding of the sea-
walls along the Washington water
front was due to an unusually
high tide running ahead of gale
winds from tf4e- East. Tidal in.
Huence extends almost to Chain
Bridge.
Numerous automobile accidents
IN Washington and vicinity re-
suited from flooded and slippery
streets and bad visibility.
Many Traffic Jams.
Flooded streets and gale-up-
rooted trees stalled rush-hour
traffic last night in a few sections
OF Washington and many parts of
nearby Maryland and Virginia.
The blowing rain filtered
through radiator grills and stalled
motors in traffic. adding to the
traffic jams.
Other motorists were unable to
start their Water-soaked cars.
The American Automobile AS
Soclation responded to more than
600 emergency calls of this type
during the storm.
Almost all roads through Rock
Creek Park remained closed today.
Exceptions were Military Road and
Blagden avenue. Rock Greek was
swollen and still rising slightly
today with the heavy run-off.
One of the worst trouble spots
in the Park was the low bridge on
Beach Drive. The creek was run
ming over the bridge today and
Beach Drive as we'll as Sheriff.
Drive were closed.
Another of the hardest-hit Sec
tlons, as usual, was nearby Prince
Georges County, especially the low
area around the Peace Cross.
AT the height of the flood, the
water stood six feet deep around
the Peace Cross and traffic was re-
routed.
Is Rescued in Boats.
Chief William G. Perry of the
Bladensburg Rescue Squad re-
ported at least 18 persons were
removed from the high water in
three boats provided by rescue
squads of the vicinity.
In Montgomery County three
Catholic University students were
rescued from flooded Seneca Creek
on Route 28 near Darnestown.
The water swept their car from a
flooded bridge and they climbed
from the machine and clung to
the top.
The Volunteer Fire Department
of Upper Montgomery County was
called. Sergt. Lawrence Price
swan out with a life line and
the students were pulled ashore.
They were Jerry Sesto, Owen
Frederickson and Joe Lyman.
Their car was swept down the
swollen creek soon after the stu
dents were rescued.
Waters Receding Slowly.
Flood waters were Nported
slowly receding today in sections
where Montgomery County roads
were blocked off at the heighth of :
the storm yesterday.
The closed roads included River
(See WEATHER. Page A-2.)