Members of Bridgeport Police and Volunteers in Police Service continue to assess today's flooding. 

 

Among most affected areas, said VIPS member Laura Pysz, is the Hall Valley Apartments on Parkview Drive. 

 

But the main damage in the area is at Burger King on Barnett Run Road - where a hole was discovered and has been confirmed to be due to a failed drain. Located in the Burger King parking lot, that hole (pictured) continues to get bigger, with water running underneath. The sidewalk has also collapsed. A fence has been erected around the damaged area. (See more photos at Tyler Vincent's gallery HERE.) 

 

Bridgeport Parks & Recreation Director Don Burton and his staff have also been doing assessments regarding city property. The most affected is City Park.

 

"Part of the soccer field was under water and the water was right on the edge of the playground," Burton said. "Part of the basketball court was flooded where water backed up through the pipe."

 

The archery range, just off the walking trail which connects City Park to Virginia Ave., was also under water, as was much of the City Park property in general. 

 

Two slips were discovered, one just outside the Bridgeport Cemetery and another just beyond the cemetery office. 

Other than that, there is fortunately no major damage.

 

"Besides the slips, it's mostly just flooding - but no real physical damage," Burton said. "We'll just have to clean the walking trails with either a power washer or flusher truck."

 

All activies at Bridgeport Parks & Recreation facilities previously scheduled for this evening have been cancelled, Burton said. 

 

Bridgeport Public Works continues to receive calls for structural flooding in basements.

 

"There's anywhere from a seep of water to several inches," said Director of Public Works Tom Brown. "It's still raining so we're getting new calls. We have our pumps out helping people and our guys are doing what they can - cleaning storm drains and as inlets are unclogged and water comes off, it tends to plug up again after it was already cleaned so it's a continual battle." 

 

Creeks are starting to recede, but not as quickly as hoped, Brown said. 

 

Residents are asked to be patient. 

 

"This was a major storm - an act of God - not something the city is resonsible for," he said. "People are irritated and we're doing what we can to help." 

 

Some residents are reporting damage to hot water tanks and furnace units. 

 

One residential basement on East Olive Street had more than 50 inches of water, actually lifting a vehicle off the ground. That vehicle is one of two which has had to be towed by Dan Riggs Towing. 

 

"The car actually floated inside the garage and hit the ceiling," Riggs said. "It was twisted inside the garage. When the water went down, we got the car turned to where we could get it out, but of course, it wouldn't start." 

 

The other car was towed from Hall Valley Apartments. Riggs expects there will eventually be several other calls to tow vehicles. 

 

"Any time it floods like this, we usually get calls several days later," he said. "Once under water, the cars are usually a total loss."

Water Street, pictured, remains closed at Virginia Ave. and Faris Ave. 

 

It has not been confirmed if it is storm related, but a 1:47 p.m. Harrison County Bureau of Emergency Services dispatch indicated that there were power lines down on Rt. 179 at the 125 mile marker. More information will be reported if it becomes available. (Update: Bridgeport Fire Department responded to the call for downed power lines. Fire Chief Chuck Feathers said there was nothing apparent and crews were returned.) 

 

Top photo by Laura Pysz. Bottom, cover photo by Jeffrey Perine. 

 

Click HERE to read what tonight's forecast has in store.

 

See a gallery of flood/high water photos HERE. 

 

Read this morning's flood coverage HERE.