Huge water main break traps drivers in DC suburb

[Knife]

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=157&sid=5152314

BETHESDA, Md. (AP) - Rescuers scrambled helicopters and boats to pull commuters from frigid floodwaters unleashed by a massive water main break Tuesday on a commuter road just outside Washington.

One neighbor described the torrent as a river that filled the street after the rupture of a main measuring 5-1/2 feet in diameter.

"I thought it might be a minor leak, then suddenly I stepped outside and 'My God!'" said Raj Bhansaly, whose house is about 50 feet from the flood. "It looked literally like the Potomac River."

Television images showed two people in a minivan climbing into a basket lowered from a helicopter overhead. A boat also was used to rescue motorists from waters at least 4 feet deep. At least one person could be seen sitting in a two-door vehicle as the flood gushed past.

About a dozen people had been rescued from their vehicles, Montgomery County fire department spokesman Pete Piringer said. Piringer said crews were having trouble getting to people because the water was moving so swiftly.

He said several of those rescued were treated for hypothermia. The temperature was around 20 degrees in the area, the National Weather Service said.

From his house, Bhansaly said he could see two cars in the rushing water that were tied to rescue vehicles with ropes. He said he wasn't worried about water damage to his home because it sits on a hill.

The 66-inch water main broke about 8 a.m. on River Road near the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, authorities said.

John White, a Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission spokesman, said the valves to shut off the water were underwater. White said he did not know exactly where the break occurred.

Holy crap. Isn't that where shep lives?

[Lonestar]

I think he lives in Rockville.

[Knife]

The video is rather impressive too, something you usually see in Missouri or something in the spring floods.

[Kanastrous]

Just spoke with my folks, who live in Bethesda.

"So that's what all the fuss is!"

[MKSheppard]

So that's why our water has been crappy for the last few days...

[CmdrWilkens]

They were interviewing the guys who led the rescue on NPR while I was driving down to Virginia today. This is one of the few days I'm glad that I work in DC and live in Baltimore County About the only good thing abotu this is that the affected portion of the road is outside the beltway and won't affect (near as I can tell) commutes into the city which are already hellish on that side of town.

[Anguirus]

My brother got out of school early today on account of this. Thankfully our water doesn't seem to be affected despite only living a mile from that school.