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BLOOMSBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Latest on heavy rains in Pennsylvania (all times local):
11:25 p.m.
Emergency officials say they are fairly confident Monday evening that a group of rafters is safe after a report that they were missing on Lehigh River.
Nearly 150 rafters appear to be safe almost three hours after water rescue teams from Lehigh and Northampton counties had been dispatched to search for them. They were on a rafting trip about 70 miles (113 kilometers) north of Philadelphia.
The Morning Call reports that emergency officials have talked to the rafting company and they appear to be happy with the numbers of those accounted for.
An emergency official says that the company believes the rafters were returning home on buses.
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9:50 p.m.
Water rescue teams from Lehigh and Northampton counties have been dispatched Monday evening to the Lehigh River after officials say several rafters could be missing.
A rafting company had reported that they could not account for nearly 150 rafters.
The Morning Call reports that one official says it's possible everyone is safe, but they must account for every rafter.
A county dispatcher says there are "conflicting reports" if there is anyone missing on the river near Slatington, Pennsylvania, about 70 miles (112.65 kilometers) north of Philadelphia.
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5:10 p.m.
Officials are evacuating a few hundred people from part of a central Pennsylvania college town after a rain-swollen stream began to inundate their neighborhood.
Police in Bloomsburg triggered a siren late Monday afternoon for a mandatory evacuation on the west end of town, where Fishing Creek is out of its banks.
County emergency official Dave Witchey says a fire hall in Berwick is accepting evacuees, and another shelter may be opened, if necessary.
Heavy rains overnight caused flooding in a wide swath of Pennsylvania, including areas that have been soaked by a series of unusually heavy rains in recent weeks.
Bloomsburg evacuated some residents about a month ago over high waters on Fishing Creek and the Susquehanna River.
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12:30 p.m.
Authorities say heavy rains have been causing flooding and prompting road closures and rescues of people from stranded cars in central and southeastern Pennsylvania.
WNEP-TV reports that Fishing Creek in Columbia County spilled from its banks Monday, flooding Benton and nearby areas.
In the Philadelphia area, the Schuylkill Expressway segment of Interstate 76 was shut down and a Pennsylvania Turnpike section was closed but later reopened.
Upper Darby and Montgomery County police report numerous rescues of people trapped in cars by flooding. The National Weather Service office issued a flash flood warning and urged people not to drive through flooded roads.
Governor Tom Wolf says the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is working with county and local emergency management to ensure residents are safely evacuated and get help.
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12 p.m.
Authorities say heavy rains have been causing flooding and prompting road closures and rescues of people from stranded cars in central and southeastern Pennsylvania.
The Schuylkill Expressway segment of Interstate 76 was shut down at Route 202, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike was closed between Valley Forge and Norristown due to flooding but later reopened.
Upper Darby police report officers "actively rescuing people trapped in their cars due to flooding." Montgomery county police reported officers responding to "dozens" of flooding and water rescue calls.
The National Weather Service office issued a flash flood warning and urged people not to drive through flooded roads.
Governor Tom Wolf says the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is working with county and local emergency management to ensure residents are safely evacuated and get help.
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11 a.m.
Authorities say heavy rains have been causing flooding and prompting road closures and rescues of people from stranded cars in southeastern Pennsylvania.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey says numerous road closures and water rescues have been occurring.
Forecasters issued a flash flood warning and urged people not to drive through flooded roads.
The Schuylkill Expressway segment of Interstate 76 was shut down in both directions at Route 202 due to dangerous flooding.
Upper Darby police report officers "actively rescuing people trapped in their cars due to flooding."
The Pennsylvania Turnpike was closed between Valley Forge and Norristown due to flooding but later reopened.
Montgomery county police reported officers responding to "dozens" of flooding and water rescue calls.
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