© Bill Green/Frederick News-PostTwo girls brave the rushing floodwaters Friday afternoon to walk along the path and through the covered bridge in Baker Park. Much of the park was covered by the heavy rain.
The brunt of the rain, 1.2 inches, fell between 3 and 3:30 p.m., said Paul Walker, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather.
The sudden rainfall overloaded the city's drainage system and flooded streets, said Chip Stitley, superintendent of stormwater and sanitary sewer for the city's Department of Public Works.
The floods were concentrated in the City of Frederick, said Steve Leatherman, technical services bureau chief for the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services. Parts of Highland, East Church, Patrick and Market streets, among other roads, were closed for short periods, he said.
"It was a situation where water flooded the roads and then receded," Leatherman said.
There was no apparent structural damage to any of the buildings that flooded, including the YMCA of Frederick County, he said.
At Colonial Jewelers, employees saw firsthand the impact of the flash flood.
Colonial co-owner Patty Hurwitz said when Market and Patrick streets flooded, water spewed into the basement of her business at 1 S. Market St.
"It was like an artesian well," Hurwitz said.
Employees ran downstairs and grabbed boxes, she said.
Jim Klipp, a plumber with the county's maintenance department, said crews responded to Winchester Hall for a minor flood in the basement.
Custodial staff "got on it right away with vacuum cleaners that dry up the water," he said. "It was a fierce storm that came through."
Source: The Frederick News-Post
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