Bristol Bails Out from What National Weather Service Defined as ‘100-Year Flood’

By

Water rescue on Bristol Pike
Image via Skyforce10 at NBC10.
Water rescue on Bristol Pike in the aftermath of a torrential summer rainstorm.

Flooded roads, underwater basements, and frightened residents were just part of the aftermath of a wild July afternoon in Bucks County. NBC10 covered the meteorological mayhem.

A strong cold front swept through the Philadelphia region in the late afternoon. It dumped 6-10 inches in Bucks County.

The National Weather Service’s Mount Holly office called it a “100-year flood,” meaning that the chances of seeing such a storm in one year is about 1 percent.

Jim Campbell of Bristol saw his backyard flood and was helpless in preventing a foot or so of water from swamping his basement.

“I’ve been here 38 years, and I never saw so much at once,” he said.

Car rescues were rampant, as vehicles were overtaken by currents.

Christine Cagnetti drove to Wilson Avenue when she learned that her daughter and two-month-old granddaughter were trapped in a car that was stuck in floodwater.

“They thought it was just a little puddle, and they drove through it… And here we are,” she said. “I just needed to get to them because the lightning was crazy, and I was worried for them.”

All three made it out safe.

The American Red Cross aided 56 people overnight who evacuated to a shelter at Cecelia Snyder Middle School in Bensalem.

More on this dangerous storm is at NBC10.

Connect With Your Community

Subscribe for stories that matter!

"*" indicates required fields

Hidden
BT Yes
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Advertisement