Heavy Rains Cause Flooding, Water Rescues In Area

Torrential rains led to significant flooding in the Levittown area, impacting the Neshaminy Creek and Delaware River.

The National Weather Service and local officials warned of the continued flooding threat along the creek and river.

Emergency crews in Bucks County conducted around half a dozen water rescues between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, with at least two in Levittown. Tullytown Borough firefighters responded to a flooded Levittown Town Center parking lot to help motorists and Middletown Township crews rescued a motorist trapped near the Neshaminy Creek on Wednesday morning.

No injuries were reported due to the flooding in the area.

Numerous roads, including Newportville Road/Main Street in Bristol Township near Hulmeville Borough and Langhorne-Newtown Road (Route 413) at Bridgetown Pike in Middletown Township, were closed due to flooding.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Winchester Ave in Langhorne Boro currently closed between Pine and Bellevue for downed tree with wires. PECO just arrived on scene. @tmabucks @StevieLReese @BuxMontNews pic.twitter.com/ej420XoKC3

— LanghornePD (@LanghornePolice) January 10, 2024

There were other sporadic road closures for downed trees or wires.

The Neshaminy Creek at Playwicki Park in Middletown Township neared major flood stage on Wednesday morning. Periwinkle Avenue was completely submerged by 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

The Delaware River in Bristol Borough returned to its banks by sunrise Thursday, but the Mill Street Parking Lot and other areas suffered overnight flooding, leaving debris behind.

Officials anticipated further flooding in Bristol Borough on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon and at night due to high tides and downstream water flow.

Power outages impacted around 2,500 customers Tuesday night, but that number was reduced to 858 by Wednesday morning.

Verizon and Xfinity also had reported service disruptions in the area.

The area’s school districts delayed opening due to the storm’s impact.

A LevittownNow.com reporter assisted a man who drove his vehicle through the flood waters and became stuck at Zimmerman Lane and Newportville Road in Bristol Township. A firefighter from the township responded to check on the man, who said he thought he could make it through the flooded water to get where he was going.

A driver on Falls-Tullytown Road by Moon Drive in Falls Township late Tuesday night crashed into a downed tree, but no serious injuries were reported by officials.

The Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company cautioned on social media: “Turn around don’t drown is real. Barricades are up because of a dangerous condition.”

More than 100 roads were closed across Bucks County since Tuesday evening, but many had reopened by Thursday, county officials said.

Sue Rodriguez, who was traveling from Bucks County Wednesday morning to get to her bus driver job in Philadelphia, said she was pleased to see downed limbs and tree already cleared from the roadways. However, she was surprised to see so much street flooding.

“The only thing I have to tell people is to stay out of the flooded roads,” she said. “Don’t do something that will hurt you and your family.”

The National Weather Service’s regional office warned of another storm expected Friday night through Saturday. New rainfall could exacerbate the current flooding and bringing strong, possibly damaging winds.

A Wind Advisory is also in effect for later Wednesday as strong winds were expected to return.

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