Massive Watermain Break in Dundalk


Last Update: 8:05 pm

Latest Information

Dundalk Flooding


The surge of water from a break in a 72-inch water main has been stopped, but the widespread damage from flash flooding in Dundalk in still being assessed.
The flooding erupted at around 4:30 Friday afternoon at Dunhaven Road and Dundalk Avenue. The torrent flooded several neighborhoods, washing away part of a road, flooding cars, and trapping some people in their homes.
Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith said the water was knee to chest deep in some places and damaged homes and cars, but no injuries or medical emergencies were reported, although crews did rescue several people.
"The only people who had to be rescued were those who went in the water," Smith said.
Baltimore City public works crews stopped the flow to the broken section about 6:30 p.m., said Don Mohler, a spokesman for Smith. Scott Peterson, a spokesman for Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, said city public works crews were working Friday night to turn off secondary water valves in the area.
Fire department spokeswoman Elise Armacost said the break in the six foot main caused extensive flooding in the Baltimore suburb and police spokeswoman Susan Hunt said police sent swiftwater rescue crews to the scene.
Baltimore County police spokesman Bill Toohey said officers would patrol the area overnight because the flooding had caused some power outages and prevented residents from getting into their homes.
Rick Abbruzzese, a spokesman for Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley, said the Maryland Emergency Management Agency was monitoring the situation.
"The state will obviously be assisting in cleanup," Abbruzzese said.
The state would assist families with property damage, similar to aid offered after Tropical Storm Isabel damaged homes in 2003, also in eastern Baltimore County, the spokesman said.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., issued a statement Friday evening calling the break a disaster.
Mikulski said she had contacted Smith about "working together to meet the immediate needs of the families and businesses of Dundalk as well as the long range problems caused by our aging infrastructure."





We have breaking news out of Dundalk in Baltimore County. ABC2NEWS.COM has confirmed a massive watermain break.

VIEW SLIDESHOW |Dundalk Watermain Break

It's happening near the intersection of Dundalk and Dunhaven Roads. The Department of Public Works tells ABC2NEWS.COM that this is a massive break. Authorities say this is a 72-inch main that has ruptured.

Emergency officials have set up a staging area near the on-ramp at the Key Bridge. Several entire neighborhoods are flooded to varying degrees. The Logan Village Shopping Center has been flooded. Authorities have requested boats to assist with search and rescue operations.

At the specific location of the break, the road is collapsing.

Police have closed all exits from 695 to Dundalk.

According to BGE.com, there are at least 1,000 power outages already in Baltimore County, most of which appear to be in the vicinity of the water main break.

Stay with ABC2NEWS.COM for updates to this breaking news story.

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