Jul 17, 2000
A dam on Tibbetts Pond failed from the combined effects of beavers blocking the outlet pipe and 3 to 5 inches of rain. The dam, 100 ft long, 6 ft high, and 30 ft wide at the base, failed at about 3 am, causing water to flood Route 16. A car driven on Route 16 by a 32-year-old man was swept away by the 8-ft wall of water which accompanied the flash flood; fortunately the man survived. A 900 ft section of Route 16 was washed away by the flood waters; the water cut channels as deep as 20 ft. Da
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 5173384). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.
This event is one of many recorded floods in Somerset County. See the full FEMA flood zone map, NFIP claim totals, and disaster history for the area.