Thunderstorms with torrential downpours caused widespread creek, basement and poor drainage flooding in Philadelphia. Doppler Radar storm total estimates reached between 3 and 4 inches in the northwestern part of the city centered around Roxborough and West Mount Airy. There was also a major disruption in nearly every transportation system during the morning of the 1st. Around 400 homes were damaged and 18 businesses suffered major damage. Nearly 200 people were evacuated, mainly from the Kensington section of the city. Emergency services responded to 1,075 incidents mainly rescuing people from their homes or vehicles. Hundreds of vehicles were damaged or submerged. Municipal property damage was estimated at 15.3 million dollars. PECO Energy reported about 35,000 homes and businesses lost power in their service area including Philadelphia. On August 5th, Governor Ed Rendell declared a state of disaster in Southeastern Pennsylvania. This cleared the way for victims to receive federal funding. This also permitted the state to allocate more resources toward the recovery effort and waived the normal contract and bid process for clean-up efforts. On August 6th, President George W. Bush declared Philadelphia, Delaware and Montgomery Counties disaster areas. This enabled residents and businesses to apply for federal funding. The eastbound lanes of the Schuylkill Expressway at the Conshohocken Curve were blocked by over four feet of mud. The expressway remained closed for most of the day. All SEPTA regional rail lines and the Broad Street subway were closed during the morning. Sump pumps malfunctioned along the flooded Vine Expressway and Interstate 95. Philadelphia International Airport had hour-long delays throughout the morning. Vehicles were swept into the flooding Cobbs and Tacony Creeks and clogged the waterways. Homes and businesses were flooded in the Germantown, Kensington, Mount Airy, North Philadelphia, Overbrook and Roxborough sections of the city. In some instances, entire basements and parts of the first floor were flooded. Sofas, chairs, rugs and appliances were all ruined. In East Mount Airy, water and gas service was shut to about 100 homes after a huge sink hole formed. The retaining wall at the Roosevelt Middle School collapsed and blocked one road. Flooding waters along Cobbs Creek (bordering Delaware County) contained raw sewage. A couple of fire engines were stuck in its flood waters. In Chestnut Hill, the macadam was stripped from a couple of roads. Extensive damage occurred within Fairmount Park (about an estimated $5 million dollars) as trails, park vehicles and Forbidden Drive's banks were swept away. Two bridges over the Cresheim Creek were badly damaged. In addition to Fairmount Park, municipal damage occurred to the city's water department, streets, vehicles and gas works. In addition, a couple of golf courses were closed for about a week because of flood damage.    The Frankford Creek at Castor Avenue was above its 7 foot flood stage from 750 a.m. through 1126 a.m. EDT on the 1st. It crested at a RECORD BREAKING 12.93 feet at 845 a.m. EDT. The Wissahickon Creek at its mouth near the Schuylkill River was above its 5 foot flood stage from 739 a.m. through 653 p.m. EDT on the 1st. It crested at 8.24 feet at 815 a.m. EDT. The Pennypack Creek at the Rhawn Street Bridge was above its 7 foot flood stage from 1106 a.m. through 343 p.m. EDT on the 1st. It crested at 7.86 feet. While not gaged, flooding also occurred along the Cobbs, Cresheim and Tacony Creeks. Storm totals included 5.30 inches in Roxborough, 1.70 inches at the Philadelphia International Airport and 1.54 inches at the Northeast Philadelphia Airport.

Flash Flood in PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
From 01-AUG-04 06:00:00 to 01-AUG-04 14:00:00 (EST)
Location: COUNTYWIDE
Property damage: 18M
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: NEWSPAPER