UPPER DUBLIN TWP, Pa. - Three people were killed in Montgomery County after severe storms from Hurricane Ida hit the region on Wednesday.
Montgomery County Commissioner Dr. Val Arkoosh says the storm prompted more than 450 water rescue events and thousands of calls to emergency services.
“Our 9-1-1 call center answered 6,583 calls for assistance since 11 a.m. yesterday, which is three times the calls we receive within a normal 24-hour period,” Arkoosh said at a press briefing on Thursday morning.
At the briefing, Arkoosh confirmed that three people died as a result of the storms. She said further details will be released following coroner reports.
“One of the fatalities being investigated was due to structural damage from the storm in Upper Dublin,” Arkoosh said. “The other two fatalities are believed to have been from drowning. One involving a car and the other involving the individual being inside of a building that flooded.”
County personnel remain in emergency mode and some rescues are still underway.
“This continues to be an active incident,” Arkoosh said. “We have emergency personnel who are actively rescuing people at this very moment. Our advice to residents is to stay vigilant and stay off the roads if you can.”
The Schuylkill River and Perkiomen Creek are continuing to rise, she said, and have not yet reached the crest stage. Both waterways have already surpassed all-time records.
TheNational Weather Service is trying to determine if a tornado touched down in Montgomery County. They said the storm track runs from Whitemarsh Township through Upper Dublin Township and up the Route 309 corridor to Horsham.
The county is offering a shelter for residents impacted by the storm through a partnership with the Red Cross.
