66in. water main causes major flooding in Washington D.C.metro area

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http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=8129587&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1The the

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Six vehicles trapped on roadway in 3ft. deep fast current waters. No injuries reported. Rescue helicopters extracting victims with rescue baskets. Current outdoor temperature nineteen degrees

[packy]

Ugh! What a horrible mess! Hope they get everyone rescued.

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At least one dozen people extracted from vehicles. Heavy fire department fire engines and tanker trucks being used to rescue people because of their ability to withstand the velocity of the swift rushing water.

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Update from local officials that it is a 96in. water line, estimate of flooded roads to be 50 to 60ft. wide in parts of the roadway. Elderly commuters and children among those being rescued. Hypothermia becoming issue for stranded motorists and rescue personnel.

[packy]

I'm watching it now. Bad!

[dojewo]

I saw this on tv, it's good to hear that everyone is safe from those vehicles.

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Motorists Rescued From 'Massive' Water Main Break

BETHESDA, Md. -- Numerous motorists were rescued Tuesday morning after a 66-inch water main broke in the area of River Road and Bradley Boulevard in Montgomery County.

A large water main break closes a road in Montgomery County.
The water main broke just before 8 a.m., sending 150,000 gallons of water a minute down River Road. As many as 18 cars may have been trapped in the water, which is said to be 3 to 4 feet high in some places.

A helicopter rescued people using a basket and transported them to safety. Crews using boats and a fire truck rescued others.

Pete Piringer of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue said 12 to 15 people were rescued from their vehicles, including children and the elderly. He said no serious injuries were reported.

"Picture a 4- or 5-foot wall of water hitting a vehicle," Piringer said. "Some people did have several feet of water in their vehicles."

Several roads have been shut down: River Road, Fenway Drive, Clearwater Drive, Carter Rock Springs Drive and Bradley Boulevard. River Road is closed between Bradley near Congressional Country Club and Seven Locks Road. Bradley and Seven Locks are the best alternate routes.

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission crews shut off the main source of water to the broken pipe at the Potomac Water Plant at about 9:30 a.m. Three other valves that feed into the pipe below the plant were located and shut off by 10:45 a.m.

"It is a major transmission line -- 66 inches in diameter," WSSC spokesman Jim Neustadt said of the broken water main. "That's a large pipeline."

Neustadt said the pipe was put into the ground in 1964. He said it extends from the Potomac Water Filtration Plant to the Mormon Temple.

There was concern that some cars may have been swept downstream by the rushing water. Rescue crews were checking on a green sedan in a wooded area off Carderock Springs Drive.

Officials are also concerned about flooding further downstream. The impact of all of the water rushing down River Road has not been assessed.

Impact on Area

A Suburban Hospital spokeswoman said the water main break has left the hospital with reduced water pressure. Water conservation measures are in effect, but none of this is affecting care for patients.

The hospital also received three victims of the incident, all of them are in good condition.

Some National Institutes of Health campus facilities have no water. NIH is encouraging employees to limit water consumption as the Office of Research Facilities staff work on alternative measures to increase water pressure until the water main is repaired.

The National Naval Medical Center has experienced a decrease in water pressure. The Medical Center is evaluating the need to shut down all non-patient-critical functions, outpatient appointments and other base functions. All in-patients will continue to receive optimal care during this time and patient safety will remain paramount, medical center officials said.

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Large-Water-Main-Break-Reported-in-Montgomery-Co.html