Bucks County Bracing For Rising Flood Waters
BRISTOL, Pa. (CBS) -- In Bucks County, the sand bags and emergency plans are in place with residents bracing for flooding that's ahead.
With steady rain falling throughout the day, people who live and work along the Delaware River kept their eye on the water level, preparing for the worst.
By Thursday evening in Bristol, barricades were are up and some roads already closed. It was a precautionary move seen all along the Delaware River.
Further north in Yardley, Frank Lyons was worried.
"We're concerned because it looks like the river's going over the flood stages," Lyons said.
Lyons is the owner of Continental Tavern but he's also a part of a group in charge of maintaining three unique boats. On Thursday, one of the boats was still left out on the water.
"Unfortunately, we were not able to get all three out today," Lyons said.
Turns out, the boats are used in the annual re-enactment of Washington Crossing from Pennsylvania to New Jersey. To replace the boats, it would cost about $500,000.
Lyons added, "So they're very precious assets especially to us being the rowers that take George Washington across the river."
Economically, the owner of the Yardley Inn knows what it's like to be hit hard. His business endured three floods in less than three years and it cost him more than a million dollars in damage.
Owner Robert Freed said, "More than that, we have 75 employees that work in here and this is their livelihood so we're trying to keep the shutdown to a minimum."
Freed is hoping to weather the storm this time around with sand bags and new inflatable rafts.
"They'll look like an oversized picture frame if you're looking at it from above," Freed explained.
Anticipating the worst, Bucks County officials met earlier in the day to map out a plan.
Steven Huizar is the Director of Emergency Services with the American Red Cross. Huizar told Eyewitness News, "We'll continue to monitor the situation. If we continue to receive heavy rain fall and the river goes up then yes evacuations will be needed."
Authorities added they have a system in place, ready to issue updates and warnings out to the public when necessary.
Reported by Elizabeth Hur, CBS 3
