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Politics & Government

Hatboro Struck by Flash Flooding

For the second time in recent weeks, heavy rains infiltrated the borough.

For the fifth time in six years and the second time in recent weeks, feet of water from the enveloped portions of Hatboro.

Robert Quigley, of , which was , said he had been power washing the floors and left the family-owned shop at around 1 a.m. By 4 a.m., he learned three feet of water had ravaged the building, again.

"We had [the inside] mostly cleaned up. Today we planned to come out and move some of the small things," said Quigley. 

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Much of the business' large equipment, such as refrigerators, stoves, and ovens, were washed away. The equipment was outside the building waiting to be moved and cleaned.

"It's not nice to see hardworking people faced with disaster," said Hatboro resident Beverly Harrison, who was a regular at the shop.

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Quigley said the plan is to reopen the business. Whether or not it is at the same location is up in the air.

Flooding also damaged more than a dozen vehicles at , a landmark car dealership on York Road, and Car-Nu across the street. 

"Once the cars get any water in them they're done," said owner Frank Jarrett.

Jarrett usually moves the cars to higher ground, but didn't this time because flooding was not expected.

Luckily, the cars are covered by insurance, he said.

Jarrett is looking for people with good condition recent model year cars who are willing to sell their vehicles to him so he can replenish his used car lot.

"We remain open and are continuing to serve the community," he said Thursday afternoon in his mud-covered office.

Officials confirmed the suffered extensive damage during this morning's flooding. They had no comment on whether the oldest building in Hatboro may have to be razed due to the damage it suffered.

Borough Manager Steve Plaugher said the site's property management company is exploring options for the site - including removing a portion of the badly flooded building.

"They were still exploring what to do," Plaugher said. "I did not hear back any final plans."

Plaugher said public works had boarded up the Old Mill Inn's damage caused by Hurricane Irene to prevent people from entering the shuttered former eatery.

"The board-ups were all blown out," Plaugher said. "The water pushed some of the contents out into the parking lot."

The building, which is owned by TD Bank following the previous owner's foreclosure, is up for sale. Officials could not say what impact the last two floods would have on a potential sale.

"The actual structure sill appears to be intact," Plaugher said.

Members of Hatboro's began responding to water rescue calls shortly after 3 a.m., said Deputy Fire Chief Chuck McElroy.

Just as crews were winding down operations at about 10 a.m., they were dispatched to the location of Quig’s Pizza for a hazmat situation, which turned out to be 55-gallon drums filled with contaminants that had begun to leak after they were washed away this morning. The drums were filled with contaminants that and were waiting to be disposed of.

The fire company also performed water rescues at the development, Davisville and Terwood roads, , and on Fulmor Avenue, said McElroy.

During the course of the morning members from Hatboro's fire company were called to assist with water rescues. Horsham handled a "number" of water rescues early this morning, according to Horsham's Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Gary Bissig. Bissig said no injuries were reported in the rescues.

As was the case during Hurricane Irene, Horsham was relatively untouched by the downpour - at least compared to Hatboro. Horsham Township Manager Bill Walker said a county-owned bridge over Davis Grove Road collapsed into the creek and is expected to be repaired beginning Monday. While the work is being completed over the next week or two, Walker said Davis Grove Road would remain closed from Park Road to Keith Valley Road.

Walker said homeowners reported flooded basements and two or three reported leaks in home heating tanks.

"One actually floated away," Walker said, adding that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has been notified.

During times when the creek is over its banks, Walker said will remain closed, as it was today, simply for public safety. Residents tend to go to the park to look at the high creek levels, he said.

While heavy rains were expected with Hurricane Irene, Walker echoed sentiments of many that last night's storm, which continued through this morning, caught the township by surprise.

"We haven't been able to catch our breath," he said.

With more rain expected tonight, McElroy said "the main thing we can do is to get the equipment in order and get the trucks ready."

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