Ida Update: Evacuation Suggested In New Hope, Solebury With Flooding Still To Come

SOLEBURY, PA — Flash flooding and river flooding in New Hope and Solebury led to the failure of several roads — and an abundance of closures — on Wednesday night. Police are recommending that residents who live between the Delaware River and the canal consider evacuation Thursday.

At its Stockton checkpoint, the Delaware River is projected to crest at 21.1 feet at 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. The river could crest at 14.3 feet at the New Hope-Lambertville checkpoint. This means minor to moderate flooding in these areas, possibly exacerbated by creeks and canals nearby.

The Delaware River passed its flood stage Wednesday night, and many area creeks and tributaries flooded, too. The Solebury Township Police Department said multiple abandoned vehicles remain on roadways.

The force of some of this flooding led to lasting damage on some roads. Police said at 12 p.m. Thursday that the following roads had failed:

• Route 263 between Comfort Rd and Route 32, also called River Road.
• Fleecy Dale Road between Carversville Road and Route 32.
• Route 32 between Greenhill Road and Route 263.
• Armitage Road between Sugan Road and River Road.
• Atkinson Road between Street Road and Pidcock Creek Road.

The following roads are closed due to debris, downed wires, or a fallen tree, police said:

• Paxson Road between Sugan Road and Paxson Hill Road.
• Aquetong Road and Route 202.
• Route 32 between Route 232 and Aquetong Road — some flooding remains on this road as well.
• Aquetong Road between Covered Bridge Road and Route 32.
• Ely Road between River Road and Phillips Mill Road.
• Aquetong Road at Carversville Road.
• Carversville Road between Aquetong Road and Street Road.
• Creamery Road between Mechanicsville Road and Route 263.
• Greenhill Road between Sugan Road and Sawmill Road.
• Greenhill Road at Route 32.
• Laurel Road between Comfort Road and River Road.

"Township Police and Road Department are continuing to work and clear and re-open as many roadways as possible," Solebury police said Thursday. "This task [is] being taken on aggressively with expected cleanup to continue into Friday."

In nearby Lambertville, residents are urged to stay put due to a state of emergency in New Jersey. The mayor told Patch that every single waterway in town breached its banks, leading to widespread flooding Wednesday.

Bucks County has also seen significant damage due to canal, river, and creek flooding in Yardley and Bensalem. All Bucks County government buildings are closed, as are many school districts including New Hope-Solebury.

In nearby Philadelphia and Montgomery County, the Schuylkill saw record-breaking flooding. The NWS is also evaluating several possible tornadoes in the area Thursday, which are believed to have touched down Wednesday.

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