Schuylkill County seems to have escaped flooding for the most part, local street supervisors and fire chiefs said Tuesday.
“We had no calls at all,” Pottsville Fire Chief Todd March said before 3 p.m.
However, a city department was called to a pump detail at 322 W. Race St. about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. March said overall, the city was in good condition regarding any potential flooding.
“It was unusual for the amount that we had,” March said about the lack of flooding and all the rain.
Standing water was visible on streets such as Progress Avenue in the city.
David Martin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in State College, said overall the county had about 0.10 to 0.20 of an inch of ice. About 1 to 2 inches of precipitation fell across the region.
Pine Grove received 2 inches of snow. Snow fall measurements from other areas of the county were not available. Even though the additional rainfall will cause “some of the small creeks to run high,” there is not a significant danger of flooding, he said. He cautioned that low-lying areas where water naturally ponds are likely to see some standing water. Residents can rest easy in knowing that no significant additional amount of precipitation is headed our way this week.
Today, a slight chance of rain or snow showers is expected. Temperatures today through Friday will be in the 30s. Evening temperatures will vary. Saturday and Sunday will be in the upper 40s.
“It will be like a taste of spring,” Martin said about the upcoming weather.
A supervisor at the Schuylkill County Communications Center said there was a flooding problem along Route 54 going to the Marian High School, Tamaqua.
The river and creek levels seemed to be staying where they should.
The Schuylkill River at Landingville measured 6.25 feet at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Action stage is at 7 feet and flood stage is at 8 feet. The Swatara Creek near Pine Grove measured 7.79 feet at 3:31 p.m., according to the NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service. A flood stage was not provided.
Brian Murray, streets supervisor for Schuylkill Haven Borough, said the Schuylkill River that runs through town is not spilling over into the streets.
“It came up some, but its not threat,” he said.
Borough workers were going around the borough Tuesday making sure the drains were open.
Jim Reed, assistant fire chief for Schuylkill Haven, agreed the river level was up, but he said the borough is doing OK.
“We’ve been lucky,” he said.
Homeowners can help to prevent flooding by making sure drains are unclogged and their sump pumps are working. In the end, though, there is only so much residents can do in situations like Tuesday.
“The water goes wherever it wants,” Reed said.
In Pine Grove, Len Clark, streets and water supervisor, said the level of the Swatara Creek was up, but he was not too concerned about it.
“We’re holding our own,” he said.
He said borough workers were out clearing drains Tuesday. There was ponding of water on North Tulpehocken and East Pottsville streets in the borough. He though a blocked pipe was to blame.
The rain also caused some ponding water at different locations in Orwigsburg Borough, employee Kathy Mengle said.
The roads in New Philadelphia were in good condition, Dennis Faust, a streets worker said. However, the fire department was sent out for a pump detail at 75 Macomb St., New Philadelphia.
Residents in Saint Clair whose trash was not picked up Tuesday will have it picked up today. Borough Secretary Roland Price said icy streets kept the trucks from collecting.
Bill Umbenhaur, streets supervisor, said the streets were in good condition later. The increasing temperatures helped to melt the ice and snow.
“I’m amazed for how much melted with the rain,” he said.