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Heavy Rains Hit Region (Update)

Don Rush

Dams

LAUREL, Md. (AP) - Officials ordered hundreds of people to leave their homes in Laurel after heavy rains prompted a release from two dams in the area.

The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission says the Brighton Dam in Brookville and all seven gates at the T. Howard Duckett Dam in Laurel were opened Wednesday as a precaution and will remain open for several hours Thursday morning. It's unclear how long it will take for water to recede.

Officials say the mandatory evacuation order affects hundreds of residents near the Patuxent River and more than 100 people are sheltering at a community center. About 200 senior citizens who live at Selborne House Apartments were taken to an area hotel.

Officials say U.S. Route 1 is closed, creating detours in parts of Prince George's and Howard counties.

Delaware

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - Heavy rains have brought flooding to roads around Delaware and emergency officials say they've rescued several stranded people.

Delaware State Police say emergency workers rescued about 15 students from a stalled bus in Edgemoor on Wednesday. Later, New Castle County Paramedics spokesman Cpl. Peter Small says a person clinging to a tree near White Clay Creek and Chambers Rock Road in Newark was rescued.

Delaware transportation officials are reporting roads closed due to flooding in all three counties. Flooding closed the Claymont train station, but SEPTA is expected to continue operating south through to Wilmington, Churchmans and Newark and north through to Marcus Hook and Center City Philadelphia.

In Wilmington, police are warning that several roads are closed and officials are urging people to avoid driving through standing water.

Maryland Impact

BALTIMORE (AP) - Emergency officials in Maryland say crews had to rescue motorists who got stranded in high water on closed roads as heavy rains bring some midweek flooding to the mid-Atlantic region.

The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings through Wednesday afternoon in Washington, northern Virginia and central Maryland. Road closures occurred due to flooding, downed trees and electrical lines.

In Baltimore, officials with the Office of Emergency Management reported rising waters in the Jones Falls area. And Anne Arundel County Fire officials said swift boat rescuers pulled two men from a car in rising water after they drove around a barrier in Laurel.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.