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Torrential rainfall and flash flooding on Monday and Tuesday meant trouble for several motorists in Beltsville and Laurel.
Prince George's Fire/EMS Department personnel responded to at least five vehicles stranded in flood waters in the Laurel-Beltsville area on Monday afternoon while Route One at Ammendale Road in South Laurel was closed Tuesday afternoon when heavy rain caused a nearby creek to overflow and flood the intersection, said State Highway spokesman David Buck.
"We've actually had snow plows to push the water, but there's no place to push the water," he said. "We're at the mercy of Mother Nature."
Buck said although the intersection is closed, he added nearby roads are drivable.
"There are a couple ways to get around it that are good parallel routes," he said.
At about 4:15 p.m. Monday afternoon, firefighters responded to a call from a motorist stranded at Baltimore and Prince George's avenues. The flood waters quickly receded, and the driver was able to safely walk away from the vehicle.
About a half-hour later, a vehicle that bypassed a road barrier became stranded in flood waters at Baltimore Avenue and Ammendale Road. The fire department's swift water team safely removed the four occupants from the vehicle.
And just before 6 p.m., emergency personnel assisted three vehicles stranded in flood waters at the 5800 block of Sunnyside Road. All three occupants were rescued.
In the latter two cases, all occupants were evaluated by paramedics and declined transportation to the hospital. None were believed to be stranded for much longer than a half-hour, said department spokesman Derrick Lee.
"We leave [the option to seek medical care] to the discretion of the individuals," Lee said. "And we, to be quite honest, didn't think it was necessary."
On Tuesday morning, a motorist was rescued from flood waters at 34th Street and Arundel Road in Mount Rainier at about 5 a.m., Lee said. Thus far, there is no estimate of damages to any vehicles involved.
Motorists are advised to never drive or swim through flood waters and to only walk where water is not moving. Drivers who encounter floods should turn around.
"It takes roughly two feet of water to get a car off the ground," Lee said. "After that, the driver loses control."
