Record flood caused by hurricane Ida in Philadelphia, there are victims

Severe flood, that has continued since Thursday across the Pennsylvania region, has already claimed several civilian lives. What else to expect from Hurricane Ida?

In the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania state, due to violent storms that hit the region at least four people died. Authorities confirmed that at least seven tornadoes hit the region.

The storms led to deadly floods across the area, and Vine Street, MLK Drive and Kelly Drive freeways were closed due to the water, that flooded the roads. The wind speed from the tornado reached 150 miles per hour.

County officials said there have been about 500 water rescue operations since Wednesday, three times more than in any previous storms.

“We didn’t think that something could happen, as we don’t used to have a tornado,” residents commented on Twitter.

In the city center, people had to leave the Park Towne Place, that includes 941 apartments, when the waters were out of the nearby Shuylkill River. After warning residents, guidence informed them that “worsening conditions” led to a power outage. Residents were asked not to use the elevators.

Those who escaped death had their houses and roads flooded, a strong wind tore power lines. Schuylkill in Philadelphia reached a record 17 feet at around 9 a.m.

Major flooding also occurred at Brandyne Creek in Downingtown and Chadds Ford, and Perkyomen Creek in Greaterford.

Both directions on the Pennsylvania Turnpike between the Valley Forge exit and the Downingtown exit are closed for extended periods due to significant flooding.

City Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said his department is still in rescue mode and there is still a long way to relieving the consequences.

“It will be a long process of cleaning and rebuilding,” Thiel said. “It’s truly a historic flood, a historic event.”