1971 — Aug 1, Thunderstorm, Flooding, metropolitan Baltimore and vicinity, MD — 14

–14 EDS, NOAA. Storm Data. Vol. 13, No. 8, August 1971, p. 148.
–14 USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in the US, PR, and the VI, 1970-1989. 2008.

Narrative Information

Environmental Data Service, NOAA, Storm Data: “Maryland. Baltimore Metropolitan area including Harford County…1-2 [Aug]…6:00 p.m.-4:00 a.m. …14 [killed]…Heavy rain, flooding, lightning.

“Severe thunderstorm activity, associated with a frontal system stalled along the East Coast for several days, brought extremely heavy rainfall to this area, resulting in widespread severe flooding. Many rainfalls over 7 inches in less than 12 hours were reported in East Baltimore City and southeast Baltimore County where the most severe flooding occurred. The 12.6 inches at White Marsh was the maximum reported total. Although this was an unofficial measurement, it was considered reliable. That only four other rainfalls greater than 11 inches in one day had been reported in Maryland since the 1890’s, indicated the rarity of such an event. Principal streams affected were Herring Run, White Marsh Creek, Stemmer’s Run and tributaries of Gunpowder Falls; record discharges were reported by the U.S. Geological Survey.

“Eight of fourteen deaths were involved in a single incident. A car with four occupants traveling along Route 7, had slid into Beam Run, a tributary of Gunpowder Falls. Four volunteer firemen and a tow-truck operator who were attempting to attach a tow-line to the car were all washed downstream by suddenly rising water, together with the car and its occupants. Only one person, a woman in the car, saved herself by grabbing and clinging to a tree. The other six deaths occurred in isolated incidents. Five were drowned when they were swept along in the rapidly moving water or fell into a sewer; one man was found dead in two feet of water in the basement of his home. At least six of the fourteen who died were involved in rescue operations. News accounts noted many people rescued from flood waters.

“Lightning was reported as unusually severe during these storms. Several buildings were damaged or destroyed by fires set by lightning strikes. Lightning and falling limbs were responsible for much of the interruptions to power and telephone service. Total storm damage was estimated at 6.5 million dollars, consisting mainly of damaged buildings, particularly through flooding of basements, damaged vehicles, erosion and bridge and roadway washouts. This storm will rank along with the other major storms of the last forty years in this area: Hurricane of August 1933, the Hurricanes Connie and Diane of August 1955, and Hurricane Hazel of October 1954.” (EDS, NOAA. Storm Data. Vol. 13, No. 8, August 1971, p. 148.)

USGS: “One of the most damaging thunderstorms in the last 50 years struck the Baltimore, Maryland, area on August 1. Streamflow-gaging stations in the area recorded discharges with recurrence intervals of 100 years. Fourteen deaths and $6.5 million in damages resulted from the floods (Paulson and others, 1991 ).” (USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in the US, PR, and the VI, 1970-1989. 2008.)

Newspapers

Aug 2, AP: “At least six persons drowned in Maryland Sunday [Aug 1] as a severe thunderstorm lashed Baltimore and the counties north of the city.

“A search resumed this morning for possibly five more storm victims feared swept to their death in swollen streams.

“Baltimore County’s Essex area was under phase one of the Civil Defense emergency plan today after the numerous low lying areas were flooded. Gov. Marvin Mandel asked Civil Defense authorities to assess damage and determine what aid is needed for the area. He also asked officials to determine whether damage might warrant federal disaster aid.

“At the height of the storm which dumped 2½ inches of rain on the Baltimore area, at least 20,000 Baltimore Gas and Electric customers in Baltimore and Harford counties were without power.

“Three persons were killed in Baltimore, two of them by drowning, police said. The third was thought electrocuted….

“To the north of Baltimore searchers still scoured creek banks and probed through flood debris along the Gunpowder River where one body was found and along Bean Run where three more bodies were found. The bodies were taken to the medical examiner’s office in Baltimore for identification purposes and autopsies, authorities said. Police theorized the victims, all men, may have been volunteer firemen and motorists whose cars were stalled along U.S. 40.

“The dead in Baltimore listed by the police department included, Kathie Merrill, 46, whose car was stalled by flood waters and was swept into a storm sewer when she got out. Charles Schafferman, 25, who tried to swim to an auto on a parking lot where he thought two children were in danger and disappeared. Police said Schafferman was in a hamburger shop when he looked out the window, saw the water rising around a car with two children in it and tried to swim to the car.

“The third Baltimore death was that of an elderly man found floating in his basement. Police said it had not been determined how Lewis Machear, 73, was killed but it was initially listed as a probable electrocution.

“The State Highway Administration reported U.S. was washed out between Fullerton and Perry Hall. Maryland 7 was closed near White Marsh and U.S. 40 was one way in the same area because of flooding. The agency spokesman said he had no idea how long it would take for repairs. The Baltimore Department of Transit and Traffic said it had at least four roads in the eastern part of the city and county closed because of flood damage, trees on them and some wires down. The department also had reports of 50 traffic signals which were not working throughout the city.” (Associated Press. “At Least Six Drown in Maryland When Severe Storms Cause Floods.” Daily Mail, Hagerstown, MD. 8-2-1071, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “At Least Six Drown in Maryland When Severe Storms Cause Floods.” Daily Mail, Hagerstown, MD. 8-2-1071, p. 1. Accessed 2-27-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hagerstown-daily-mail-aug-02-1971-p-1/

Environmental Data Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. Storm Data. Vol. 13, No. 8, August 1971, Asheville, NC. Accessed 2-27-2022 at: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-56AE950E-FAF4-460F-A787-C30A661661DF.pdf

United States Geological Survey. Summary of Significant Floods in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, 1970 Through 1989 (Water-Supply Paper 2502). USGS Kansas Water Science Center, Sep 17, 2008. Accessed 11-12-2016 at: http://ks.water.usgs.gov/pubs/reports/wsp.2502.contents.html#HDR1