Update: Emergency Declaration Over in Phoenixville

Update at 4:51 p.m. 

Borough Manager Jean Krack said the emergency declaration in Phoenixville has ended. 

Though there was some localized flooding downtown, all area rivers and creeks have crested and are receding. Route 29 (Bridge Street) was closed near Columbia Station, and certain parts of Bridge Street were closed. 

Despite water rising on the dam on the Pickering Creek and water spewing up through joints onto Route 23 (Valley Forge Road) in Schuylkill Township, the road remained open and was down to one lane. 

No reports of school closures in the area have come in. Valley Forge Park will be open tomorrow during regular hours, though some trails and roads will be closed due to flooding. 

Thanks to all who sent in photos of the storm's aftermath. You can continue to add them on the photo gallery for the storm.

Update at 1:21 p.m.

People did what they were asked to, and it made a big difference. 

Phoenixville Borough Manager Jean Krack said he was grateful that few people ventured out during the brunt of Hurricane Irene. There were no water rescues in the borough, he said, and the fire department fielded just a few calls during the storm overnight. 

"We had remarkably few incidences," said Krack, who left the borough's emergency operations center this morning. 

The center closed at approximately 8:30 a.m. and opened Saturday at 5:30 p.m. 

While Krack noted localized flooding in flood-prone areas of the borough, like Bridge Street, he said things could have been much worse. Those manning the emergency operations center at Phoenix Hose, Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 received calls for limbs down and had a bit of a scare after a tornado warning was issued last night. An emergency declaration for the borough will likely expire later today, Krack explained. 

"The greatest thing I think was that people just did what they were supposed to do and just stayed in," Krack said. 

For area roads, the underpass near Columbia Station remains closed in the borough due to flooding. Pictures depict water shooting through a joint in the bridge over the Moore Hall dam on the Pickering Creek on Route 23. Parts of Bridge Street are closed due to flooding. 

If you have photos of the storm that you'd like to share, send them to lynn.jusinski@patch.com or upload them directly to the photo gallery. 

Update at 9:53 a.m. 

Now a tropical storm, Irene is still causing rain and wind in the area.

The major story will be flooding today, and there are reports that Route 29 is closed in Mont Clare due to flooding.

Additionally, local creeks and the Schuylkill River have yet to crest, so water is still rising. If you are out checking out the scene, be very cautious.

If you have photos you’d like to share, send them to me at lynn.jusinski@patch.com or click “add photo” after clicking the photo with this article. 

Update at 5:40 a.m.

Damage Reported, Part of Tredyffrin Evacuated

Just before midnight, there was a report of a tree down on a building in the unit block of Gay Street.

Local roads are flooding, and trees are down throughout the region. In Tredyffrin Township, large-scale evacuations were reported in the Glenhardie section of the township. There were calls for water rescues at Gulph Road and Richards Road around 12:30 a.m. Sunday.

Power Out in the Area

More than 3,500 PECO customers are without power in Chester County, with the same numbers being reported in Montgomery County.

Power remained on in Oaks as of 5:40 a.m. Residents are reminded to call PECO at 1-800-841-4141 to report outages.

Emergency Operations Center Set Up

Phoenixville Borough declared a state of emergency Friday evening and has set up an emergency operations center at Phoenix Hose, Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 on Church Street.

If you have any issues with the storm, do not call the borough hall number, as that won’t be staffed. Instead use the following numbers to report storm-related problems like downed trees on public property.

Phoenixville Emergency Operations Center: 610 933-9717

County Emergency Operations Center: 610 344-5005

Schuylkill, Perkiomen at Flood Stage

Minor flooding is occurring and major flooding is likely in areas of the Schuylkill River, according to the NWS.

In Norristown, at 3:30 a.m., the stage was 14.4 feet. Flood stage is 13 feet.

“The river will continue rising to near 22.7 feet by this afternoon,” the NWS stated early Sunday morning. “The river will fall below flood stage early tomorrow afternoon.”

The Perkiomen Creek is also flooding in Montgomery County.

Tornado Watch Expires

A tornado watch for the area has expired at 5 a.m. Sunday.

Tornado warnings were issued for 10:30 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. Saturday when weather patterns indicated a likely path that included Chestnut Hill, Narberth, Bryn Mawr, Conshohocken, Plymouth Meeting, Radnor and Paoli.

Closures: Many Churches Canceled

If you were planning to head anywhere today, it’s likely canceled.

WPAZ has a list of closures. Many area churches won’t be holding services Sunday because of Hurricane Irene.

Transportation: Speed Restriction on Route 422

After midnight, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation put 45 mile per hour speed limits in place on parts of interstates 76, 676, 95, 476, along with routes 30, 202, 1, 63, 309 and 422.

The restriction on Route 422 is solely for Montgomery County. Additionally, certain vehicles, like motorcycles, oversized vehicles and tractors hauling empty trailers were restricted on certain roads.

“Vehicles in these classifications should pull over to a safe area and wait for the restriction to be lifted,” a press release states. “PennDOT is taking this step because not only is visibility greatly reduced due to blinding rain, but also these types of vehicles are prone to rollovers and difficult to control during high winds.”

SEPTA shut down service in the area and many area roads are closed due to the flooding or due to road obstructions.