Flash Flood in Crawford County, Pennsylvania

A second round of heavy rain fell on Crawford County during the evening hours. Rainfall rates well in excess of an inch per hour combined with soil saturated from the earlier rains led to a second round of flash flooding. More roads and culverts were washed out, especially across the southern half of county. Evacuations initiated during the afternoon storms continued through the evening hours. Hundreds of people were displaced from their homes. Rainfall totals for the day were generally four to six inches. 4.07 inches of rain was measured at the Meadville Airport with 4.90 inches at Linesville and around 4 inches at both Saegertown and Cambridge Springs. Bucket surveys in the Cochranton area indicated that at least 5 to 6 inches of rain fell during the day. Several hundred homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed by flooding and damage to roads was extensive.

Heavy rains fell on much of Crawford County as yet another band of thunderstorms moved through the area just after daybreak. Between one and two inches of rain fell between daybreak and 9 a.m. Spotters in Springboro measured three-quarters of an inch of rain between 7:15 and 7:45 a.m. This rain combined with ground already saturated from heavy rains the previous few days led to another round of devastating flooding in the county. This situation was made even more serious when another cluster of thunderstorms moved through the county during the afternoon hours. Many streams and creeks again left their banks washing out several roads and bridges. Dozens of roads in the county had to be closed by flood waters up to four feet deep. Some of the worst flooding occurred in the Meadville area as both French Creek and Cussewago Creek climbed well above flood stage. The Cambridge Springs and Rockdale Township areas were also hard hit by flooding. Hundreds of homes and vehicles were damaged by the flooding.

Storms with heavy rain fell across eastern Crawford County on the night and early morning of July 19 and 20th. The Oil Creek flooded Gresham Road in Hydetown with 3 to 4 feet of water, causing substantial damage to the blacktop. One home had their back wall knocked down, and several others had water flooding their basements. One person even had to be airlifted from their home. Other roadways that were closed in Crawford County due to damage sustained during the flood include Fish Flats Road/Sparta Street/Britton Road from Garland Street, in Centerville to White Road, in Rome Township; and Faunce Town Road from Washington Street in Troy Township to Maple Hill Road in Troy Township. A bridge on Foote Road was swept away by a tributary to the Oil Creek. Titusville Water Works reported 3.89��� of rain, though this gage was located south of the area of heaviest rain. Estimated rainfall was 4 to 5 inches.