Rain did not bring flooding this time

To Lambertville, New Hope

By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
   River town residents who felt a dreaded sense of déjà vu as the Delaware River approached flood level were spared a repeat of past damage with last weekend’s heavy rains producing little trouble in either New Hope or Lambertville.
   Both towns received serious warnings from the National Weather Service that flooding could occur, but neither town was harmed, according to officials.
   Lambertville Emergency Management Coordinator David Burd said the event was “quiet” and, “fortunately, very uneventful.” He said some minor basement flooding occurred, and the Lambertville Fire Department responded to help out some homeowners.
   All was quiet in New Hope, too, Borough Manager John Burke said. Streets did not flood, and Public Works was not called out to respond to any emergency although there may have been minor flooding on Waterloo Street, he said.
   As a result of the fluctuating cautionary updates from the NWS, Lambertville sent out periodic notices to keep residents informed of changing conditions. New Hope did the same along with recommended precautionary actions residents should take to prepare in the event the worst were to occur.
   ”The predictions were up and down, up and down for two days, three days actually,” Mr. Burke said Monday.
   No one really knew what to expect, keeping flood-weary homeowners on edge.
   New Hope and Lambertville have had three floods in recent years. These caused extensive damage to public and private property. There were ruined homes and appliances and furniture. In some cases, homeowners would repair and fix up only to be flooded out again shortly after the repairs were completed.
   Flood stage at Lambertville and New Hope is 13 feet.
   The final report released Saturday night by Lambertville Emergency Management Coordinator Burd said the river crested at 10:15 that morning at 10.15 feet, almost 3 feet below flood stage.
   By Saturday night, the river was down to 9.29 feet and continued to recede, Mr. Burd said.
   Thursday morning, the NWS had forecast a crest of 7.3 feet or 5.7 feet below flood level. Just hours later, another report, vastly different, was delivered. The forecast called for the Delaware to crest at 13.8 feet, nearly a foot above flood level.