Rain soaks region; 911 centers report few emergencies

From Staff Reports
The Cumberland Times-News Fri Oct 01, 2010, 07:56 AM EDT

— CUMBERLAND — Steady rain throughout the region, courtesy of Tropical Storm Nicole, prompted various weather-related calls Thursday to local emergency centers. No major injuries were reported.

More than a half-inch of rain fell by 7 a.m. in the city, according to Tim Thomas, local observer of the National Weather Service. The rain began to taper off by 4 p.m. with total rainfall totaling 2.14 inches, according to wunderground.com.

Today’s Accuweather forecast for Cumberland predicts partly sunny conditions and a high temperature of 63 degrees.

As for weather-related activity, the State Highway Administration reported removing a large boulder that rolled from the hillside onto westbound Interstate 68 near the Seton Drive exit at about 9:45 a.m. Thursday. No one was injured and a front-end loader was used to remove the boulder. Cumberland Police controlled traffic until the boulder was removed.

An accident in the 13400 block of McMullen Highway sent two people to the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center for treatment of apparently minor injuries. One vehicle crossed the center line into the path of the other vehicle. Wet road conditions contributed to the crash, Maryland State Police said.

Property damage accidents were reported without injuries at state Route 96, two miles north of Hyndman, shortly before 10 a.m. and on westbound I-68 near the Vocke Road exit at LaVale at about 7:10 a.m., according to the Allegany County 911 center.

Several other accidents and reports of flooded basements were made to emergency centers throughout the day. Apparently none involved serious injuries.

In Garrett County, nearly an inch of rain fell overnight. The wet roadway of eastbound I-68 at Grantsville sent a Ford passenger car out of control but no one was injured. The vehicle slid into a ditch after entering the interstate from the state Route 495 access ramp, police said. No more weather-related calls were reported by either Maryland State Police or the Garrett County 911 center by late afternoon.

In nearby West Virginia, no weather-related calls were reported by late Thursday morning by emergency centers in Mineral and Hampshire counties.

A flood watch was posted by the National Weather Service to remain in effect until 9 p.m. Thursday for Allegany, Hampshire, Pendleton, Hardy, Grant and Mineral counties.

The Maryland Natural Resources Police announced that boating and other recreational use of the Upper Potomac River, including its creeks and streams, should be avoided, based on information received from the National Weather Service and the Maryland Emergency Management Agency.

This advisory is in effect through Monday and will be updated as necessary.

The NRP said river levels are now hazardous for recreational use on the entire main stem of the Upper Potomac River from Cumberland to Little Falls.

For the latest information on Potomac River conditions between Cumberland and Little Falls, call the National Weather Service at 703-996-2200.

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