WASHINGTON – A Northeast D.C. neighborhood still recovering from the last big storm was bracing itself on Tuesday as rain moved into the region and flood warnings were issued.
The flooding problem in Bloomingdale is so bad that neighbors call the intersection of Rhode Island Avenue and First Street “Lake Rhode Island.”
Heavy rains have flooded homes in the neighborhood four times this summer. It happens whenever a large amount of rain falls in a short amount of time, overwhelming the underground sewer system.
On Tuesday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued Flash Flood Warnings in parts of Loudoun County in Virginia and parts of Frederick County in Maryland. For the rest of the region, D.C. area forecasters said to expect heavy thunderstorms throughout the evening and warned about flooding.
A tornado watch was also in effect until 7 p.m. for the entire region.
For the residents of Bloomingdale, Mayor Vincent Gray says D.C. water is working on a solution. On Tuesday, city crews were out patrolling flood-prone neighborhoods and clearing out storm drains.
Gray says sandbags are available, and he encourages residents to call the water company if they see flooded streets or blocked storm drains.
As a preventative measure, residents are also encouraged to clean out their gutters and down spouts to keep the rain flowing away from their foundation.
WTOP’s Mark Segraves contributed to this report. Follow WTOP on Twitter.
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