DARBY, Pa. — Overnight rains triggered flash flooding in central and eastern Pennsylvania Monday, closing a heavily traveled interstate and sending water into homes in the mountainous coal regions.

Officials reported closed roads in a wide swath from Williamsport to the Philadelphia suburbs, and some motorists had to be rescued.

Hazel Coles said water rose so quickly at her Darby home she had to exit through a window. She said there was about 3 feet of water on her street, and some people were evacuated by boat.

The National Weather Service said there were numerous reports of 6 inches of rain or more in Schuylkill and Columbia counties.

In the Benton area north of Bloomsburg, Fishing Creek spilled from its banks Monday.

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency said a helicopter rescue was planned for people on roofs in that part of northern Columbia County, but the weather needed to clear before a helicopter could take off. High water in Port Carbon prompted firefighters to launch rescue boats and rafts. Parts of Pottsville were inundated, and three shelters were set up.

Schuylkill County’s emergency management director, John Matz, said water levels were starting to fall by early afternoon Monday. He said the latest flooding may have caused more damage than the high water that hit the county a few weeks ago, affecting several hundred structures.

Associated Press