For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Approximately 1,200 Montgomery County residents were notified to evacuate their homes early this morning in an effort to remove them from flood dangers in the face of a potential failure of the Lake Needwood Dam in Rockville. County and state structural engineers monitoring a leak in the dam advised the evacuation for residents living in low-lying areas along Rock Creek.
Approximately 500 units in the Rock Creek Terrace apartment complex and another 700 homes in the designated areas were notified by public safety officers who went door-to-door after midnight, urging residents to find a place to stay with family or friends. Approximately 150 residents have been moved to a shelter set up at Wheaton High School. A shelter for pets has been set up at the Montgomery Fairgrounds.
Water was found to be seeping through the Lake Needwood Dam at about 7 p.m. The earthen structure was built in 1965. It is owned and operated by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Potential flooding dangers were assessed earlier in the day when the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated from noon to 2:30 p.m. The EOC was reactivated at 9:30 p.m. When County and state structural engineers found cracks developing on the face of the dam and the water seepage, the County ordered the emergency evacuation of residents in the designated areas shortly after midnight.