Flash Flood in Maryland, June 19, 1996

Torrential convective rainfall moved across the northern tier of central Maryland during the early morning hours on the 19th, producing widespread and in some cases catastrophic flooding across the area. Rainfall of over 5.5 inches fell in Emmitsburg, with up to 13 inches in nearby Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during the late night hours. The worst damage was in Emmitsburg, where numerous residences, businesses, and farms were flooded. Nearly all roads leading into town, including the main thoroughfare (state route 140), were flooded and/or damaged. Fifty evacuations occurred in Frederick Co, and 21 in Washington Co. Several persons were rescued, including three volunteer fire fighters and four local women (Frederick Co). An 18-foot mobile camper was destroyed near Emmitsburg after it was swept away by flood waters.There was one fatality approximately 3 miles southwest of Emmitsburg. At 0000EST, a woman exited her van along Little Owens Creek and was promptly swept away by the floodwaters, which at the time were 3 feet over top of Eylers Valley Road. The woman was found at noon the following day, approximately 1/4 mile downstream.In Washington Co, an overflowed creek near downtown Hagerstown punched a large hole into a cinder block wall at the municipal stadium, causing an estimated $100,000 in damage and cancelling an eight-game baseball home stand. A home in Hagerstown was swept off it's foundation. Numerous roads were submerged overnight through the following morning. In Carroll Co, many roads were also flooded, including state route 140 at the Monocacy River bridge. Damage along route 140 closed the highway for more than one week. The Monocacy, which traverses Carroll and Frederick Cos, has a rapid flood response; in this event, flood stage was quickly surpassed on the 19th. In fact, the crest of 25.5 feet was a flood of record.