Springfield Hit by Hurricane Floyd

On Thursday, September 16th, Springfield Township, like most communities on the Eastern Coast, felt the effects of Hurricane Floyd.   Springfield Fire Company members were kept busy for two days dealing with storm related emergencies.  During a 48 hour time period starting around 9am Thursday morning, Springfield Firefighters responded to 80 different emergencies ranging in nature from Electrical and Natural Gas Emergencies, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Water Rescues, Wires Arching, Fire Alarms and Structure Fires.

The Springfield Firefighters had to handle many emergencies, while also having to deal with emergencies of their own at their residences.   With the storm dropping over ten inches of rain in less than 12 hours, the Darby Creek, Crum Creek, and many smaller streams could not handle the deluge.  Numerous homes were effected on West Rolling Road, Doe Run Lane, North Bishop Avenue by the flood waters from Darby Creek.  Many residents in this area had to be evacuated by members of Springfield Fire Company, the Springfield Police Department and some local caring residents using a canoe and rescue raft.  Most homes in Springfield Township experienced some kind of water problem.

Springfield Firefighters had to shut-off gas and electric service to many homes experiencing water problems to keep these services from starting fires.  With the large number of emergencies going on through-out the County, Springfield Fire Company was able to maintain good communication between the County Dispatch Center and Springfield Police Dispatch to insure that all township residents emergencies were handled in the quickest and safety manor possible during this storm of the century.

The clean-up has already begun for everyone effected by this storm.  While there was significant property damage, no lives were lost to this storm in Springfield Township, a storm that no one has experienced in this area before.