Severe storms flood low-lying areas in Maryland

Severe weather prompted the National Weather Service to issue a tornado watch for most of the state of Maryland on Tuesday, while some parts of the state also experienced flash flooding as heavy rains moved throughout the region.

Baltimore County's Millers Island was one of the areas hardest hit by flooding. Emergency crews said high tide at 10 p.m. fortunately did not exacerbate flooding concerns. However, rain washed out most of Chesapeake Avenue early Tuesday night, where floodwaters peaked at up to a foot.
The bay also threatened to top the sea wall that protects homes there.

"Millers Island and other coastal areas are often affected because of the low land levels compared to the water levels. There's just not that much distance between where the land ends and the water starts," said Baltimore County Fire Department Lt. Julia Dillard.

Residents there told 11 News they've weathered their share of storms, including Hurricane Isabel, and they took Tuesday's events in stride. Resident Nicole Adam said she didn't even prepare for it.

"I didn't really know we were going to get hit with a really bad storm. I didn't think it was going to be this bad down here, but coastal flooding is hit or miss, usually," she said.
Two young girls 11 News reporter Kerry Cavanaugh spoke with said once they learned they wouldn't have to evacuate, they put on their boots and made the best of it.

"I like the water, and we can't really get in the pool. Since we can't get into the pool, this is the closest thing besides the tub," Joei Bennett said.

Fire officials said they did not have to rescue anyone who got stuck driving through standing water; however, they said slick conditions did make the roads ripe for a number of crashes.
Severe storms flood low-lying areas in Maryland