Flash Flood in Delaware, December 13 to 14, 1996

Heavy rain falling on already saturated soil and associated with a low pressure system near Delaware the night of the 13th caused flooding along most of the streams and creeks in New Castle County.In Newport, a woman and two children were rescued from their flooded vehicle on Airport Road. Numerous other underpasses as well as sections of Delaware State Route 9 were badly flooded. The heavy rain also contributed to a hydroplaning accident in Brandywine in which an 18-year-old male skidded into a tree head-on. At the New Castle County Airport 1.4 inches of rain fell between 7 p.m. EST on the 13th and 5 a.m. EST on the 14th. This was part of a 48 hour precipitation event in which 3.5 to 4.5 inches of rain fell across New Castle County. Storm totals included 4.31 inches in Odessa, 3.76 inches in Newark and 3.61 inches at the New Castle County Airport.The Christina River at Cooch's Bridge was above its 9 foot flood stage from 10 p.m. EST on the 13th through 1145 a.m. EST on the 14th. It crested at 11.2 feet at 145 a.m. EST on the 14th. The White Clay Creek near Newark reached its 13 foot flood stage from 11 p.m. EST on the 13th through 845 a.m. EST on the 14th. It crested at 13.9 feet at 330 a.m. EST on the 14th. The Red Clay Creek at Woddale Delaware was above its 5.5 foot flood stage for two hours from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. EST on the 14th. It crested at 5.6 feet at 3 a.m. EST.