Mount Washington

September 28, 2008

Storms hit region; no serious injuries reported

A series of thunderstorms moved through the Baltimore region yesterday, dumping as much as 4 inches of rain in parts of Baltimore County, causing flash-flooding and evacuations but no serious injuries, officials said. Some of the hardest-hit areas were in northern and northwestern Baltimore County, according to the National Weather Service. Yesterday evening, Baltimore County police had shut down part of York Road in Cockeysville because of flooding. Farther south in Mount Washington, the city Fire Department ordered the evacuation of Mount Washington Mill, a small shopping center that includes a Whole Foods market near the Jones Falls because of flooding concerns, a store manager said. About 5 p.m., "the Fire Department ordered everyone to leave because the water was getting high," said a Whole Foods store manager named Joe, who declined to give his last name. Fire officials confirmed that several businesses and residences on Falls Road were evacuated. By 6:30 p.m., parts of the parking lot at the shopping complex resembled a lake, and high water flowing south on the Jones Falls watershed was hitting the bottom of the Smith Avenue bridge. Rising waters had reached the windowsill of a Gore Dean store in the shopping complex, though Falls Road. remained open for traffic. Cpl. Ben Yohe of the Baltimore County police said the heavy rains caused many fender-benders, but no serious accidents. In addition to a road closure on York Road, flooding also caused the closure of North Point Road near German Hill Road in Dundalk, Yohe said.

September 27, 2008

City officials warn of road closures

Baltimore transportation officials are warning motorists of road closures planned for today that could affect traffic. Madison Street is to be closed between Bond Street and Broadway from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to accommodate a crane operation. The 2nd Annual Recovery Walk is planned for 9 a.m. to noon, going south on Park Heights Avenue to Auchentoroly Terrace and ending at the entrance to Druid Hill Park. Southbound lanes on Park Heights from Garrison Avenue to Druid Hill Park will be closed during the event. Officials also warn that traffic patterns will be altered in Mount Washington from 6:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. today for the Mount Washington Wine & Jazz Fesitval. Though no roads will be closed for the event, heavy traffic should be expected.