MoCo absolves WSSC contractor of fault after Bethesda staging area floods nearby residential property

An update on the beleaguered Bethesda neighborhood that experienced a muddy deluge from a WSSC project staging area at 7731 Bradley Boulevard after yesterday's torrential downpour: To their credit, the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services actually sent an inspector out to walk the perimeter the staging area yesterday afternoon, according to an email from DPS Director Diane Schwartz Jones obtained by Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row.

Unfortunately, the results of the inspection were no more satisfactory for residents than their previous attempts to seek relief from WSSC and the Montgomery County Council, for problems ranging from flooding to dust and noise. Schwartz Jones wrote that the inspector found that stormwater had indeed flowed over the top of the staging area's perimeter silt fence. But, she added, that "is not uncommon during a significant rain event such as the one this morning.  Given the storm and the fact that proper sediment controls were in place, there is not a code violation." The inspector found no other code issues, either, she reported.

One resident said clearing the contractor for a perimeter failure during a storm defeated the purpose of having stormwater runoff controls in the first place. If the controls fail during heavy rain, that resident said, "what is the point? None!"

Unless the County or County Council step in, it does not appear residents' concerns will be addressed anytime soon. The water main replacement project will not be completed until September 2018, until which time, the staging area will remain in place.

TROPICAL STORM ANDREA FORECAST FOR BETHESDA/DC AREA - BETHESDA WEATHER

BETHESDA STORM CENTER

ANDREA UPDATE:

Andrea is traveling up the southern East Coast. The tropical storm is moving NE at 28 MPH.

Winds within the storm are now measured at 45 MPH.

The eye of the storm is currently located east of Savannah, Georgia.

Heavy rain is expected in Bethesda throughout the day, and flash flooding is a real possibility.

FLOOD-PRONE ROADS
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In Bethesda, I would suggest you avoid the following flood-prone areas, especially during a Flash Flood Warning:

Little Falls Parkway (the whole thing), Massachusetts Avenue at Little Falls Parkway, River Road near Ridgefield Road/Whole Foods, Beechtree/Burning Tree Road, Bradley Boulevard at Arlington Road, River Road at Willard Avenue, Goldsboro Road between River Road and MacArthur Boulevard.

ANDREA FORECAST FOR BETHESDA/DC AREA
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TODAY:

Flash Flood Watch in effect.
Heavy rain, with 1-2" rainfall expected, heavier in spots.
Winds E-SE, 5-10 MPH.
Temperature: 73°.

TONIGHT:

Rain ending overnight.
Winds N 10-20 MPH.
Temperature: 68°.

SATURDAY:

Afternoon showers.

SUPERSTORM SANDY ROUGHS UP MARYLAND, DC; FLOODING STILL AHEAD; NYC, NJ, BREEZY, ROCKAWAY DEVASTATED

BETHESDA STORM CENTER

SANDY UPDATE

Today will be a day of damage assessment in Bethesda, and the DC area.  We've taken damage for sure, and it's too early to know just how much.  But we can also be thankful that we clearly did not take the beating that New York City and New Jersey did.

Over the night, winds in Bethesda significantly decreased after 1:00 AM.  Some forecasters are saying we could still have occasional gusts up to 50 MPH through the evening.  In general, though, expect winds to peak in the high 20s today.  We could get 4-5" more rain before Sandy moves on.  And a crest is moving down the Potomac River from Harpers Ferry.  That will cause flooding down here eventually, particularly tomorrow into Thursday.  Other streams are likely to flood, and Little Falls Parkway remains closed between River Road and Massachusetts Avenue.

So far, Pepco has done a pretty good job.  The primary outages reported were mostly in North Bethesda and the River Road/Wilson Lane area.  Obviously, the risk of outages remains as trees can still fall.

Strosniders received a new shipment last night, including flashlights, lanterns, window covers, chainsaws, and the ever-elusive D batteries.

Scott Graham of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue service said that MCFRS responded to 324 calls Monday, and another 47 calls since midnight.

The top wind gust reported in Montgomery County was 76 MPH in Laytonsville.  By comparison, the top wind speed recorded anywhere in the U.S. last night was 120 MPH, in Mount Washington, NH.

Sandy was perhaps the best forecast storm in history.  It followed the Euro model track almost exactly.  It made landfall 5 miles south of Atlantic City.  It also produced the predicted snow west of us:  17" so far in Davis, WV!

West Virginia and Western Maryland highways experienced whiteout conditions last night.  Not surprising, given that Sandy was centered near Lancaster, PA at one point.  According to the National Hurricane Center, Sandy remains "next door" in Pennsylvania this morning.

Finally, we have a lot to be thankful for here.  In flooded Breezy Point/Rockaway Beach in NYC, over 50 structures burnt down when flooding prevented firefighters from reaching the area in great numbers.  One resident said on Twitter that he and 100 other families are now homeless.  At least part of the Rockaway Boardwalk was also destroyed.  Once home to a famous amusement park, Rockaway remains home to several of Robert Moses' significant infrastructure projects.  So it is definitely sad to hear of this tragedy in a great American community.

We're not done with Sandy yet, but the news from states north of us reminds us it could have been far worse.

Stay tuned here and on Twitter at @BethesdaRow for updates!