READING, Pa. — Flash flooding triggered by torrential rainfall across parts of eastern Pennsylvania has left multiple people dead and others missing, authorities said on Friday, as emergency crews continued search-and-rescue operations and officials warned that additional flooding remained possible in saturated areas.
State and local authorities said fast-rising water inundated roads, neighborhoods and low-lying communities after intense thunderstorms swept across the region. Swift-water rescue teams responded to numerous calls involving stranded motorists, flooded homes and people trapped by rapidly rising creeks and streams. Officials said casualty figures remained preliminary and could change as search efforts continued.
Emergency management agencies urged residents to avoid travel through flooded areas, warning that many roads remained impassable and that floodwaters continued to pose a life-threatening risk. The National Weather Service had issued flash flood warnings for portions of eastern Pennsylvania as heavy rainfall overwhelmed drainage systems and caused waterways to rise quickly.
Authorities said first responders from multiple jurisdictions were assisting in rescue operations, using boats and specialized equipment to reach people cut off by floodwaters. Emergency officials asked residents not to drive around barricades and reiterated the agency's longstanding warning to "Turn Around, Don't Drown" when encountering flooded roads.
Pennsylvania emergency officials said damage assessments were underway as floodwaters began to recede in some locations, although additional rainfall could complicate recovery efforts. Power outages, washed-out roads and localized infrastructure damage were reported in several communities, according to local authorities.
The flooding followed a period of repeated heavy rainfall that had already left soils saturated across parts of the Mid-Atlantic. National Weather Service forecasters had warned that slow-moving thunderstorms could produce rainfall rates capable of generating dangerous flash flooding, particularly in urban areas and along small streams.
Officials said search operations would continue until everyone reported missing had been accounted for. Authorities urged residents to monitor weather forecasts, heed evacuation or emergency instructions and remain away from flooded waterways as recovery efforts continued.
