Hurricane Irene: Roads Flooded, Creeks Overflowing in Delaware

Although Delaware was largely spared the full brunt of Hurricane Irene, record flooding was still reported in the Diamond State.

Irene created winds gusting as high as 56 mph at Lewes and 51 mph at Delaware City; and dropped more than 10 inches of rain parts of Sussex County in the south.

State emergency crews have been deployed to battle rising waters, particularly in New Castle County in the northern part of the state where some creeks and streams crested four feet above flood-stage.

Officials in New Castle County said the Brandywine creek is expected to crest at 2.5 feet above flood stage level Sunday night.

The Christina River, near Newark, which crested at 4 feet above flood levels early Sunday morning, was reportedly falling by mid-day

Many roads remain across the state, especially in the South, are still closed or impassable due to flooding, fallen tree limbs and downed power lines.

Minor flooding was also reported in Kent and Sussex counties in the southern portion of the state.

At least forty homes were damaged in Lewes.

A fallen tree damaged a house in Laurel in Sussex County. According to the News-Journal newspaper, the resident was not injured.
Tens of thousands of Delawareans lost power as well.

Governor Jack Markell lifted evacuation orders Sunday morning which had been in effect since Thursday and also relaxed non-emergency travel restrictions across the state. Moreover, all bridges in the state have been re-opened.

Prior to the storm, at least 100,000 residents and tourists evacuated the coastal areas of Delaware under state orders.
Thousands spent the night in shelters.