Description

Tonight around approximately 9:45 p.m. I realized I needed a few things from the store and headed out from my apartment off Todds Lane toward the 7-11 at the intersection of Big Bethel Road and Todds Lane. My apartment complex didn't seem to have too much standing water and neither did Todds Lane as I started driving toward 7-11, or I would have immediately turned around and gone back home. As I approached the intersection across from Davis middle school, at Todds Lane and Macon Rd., I saw a few cones across Todds Lane and a sign that said Road Closed, but the 2 lanes in the direction I was heading were not blocked off and the water did not appear too deep, so I continued driving. Suddenly, the water appeared to be very deep on both sides of the road, in the gutters, so I tried to stay in the center of the road where the water wasn't as deep. The next thing I knew, a 4-wheel drive truck came plowing towards me and, as it passed me, a huge wall of water slammed against my car. My car rocked sharply to the right and then cut off. In horror, I looked down at my feet in my car and saw that water covered the floor of my car and my feet, and my daughter's school bookbag, that was on the front passenger floor was now floating on the front passenger side of the car. The water was almost up to the front seat of my Toyota minivan where I was now sitting in the dark. At this point I noticed 3 or 4 other cars in the roadway. I wasn't sure if there were people inside or not. Thank God I had my cell phone with me and it hadn't gotten wet or I don't know what I would have done. The water in the road seemed to be pretty rough. I couldn't believe this had happened so quickly! I called 911 and the concerned dispatcher helped me decide whether to try and make it to higher ground in front of Forrest School which would entail walking through water likely up to my thighs and possibly risk being swept away by the rough, deep water, or to wait for the Fire Department who I was almost close enough to see. I decided to wait for the Fire Dept. I was looking for the red lights, but within a few (scary) minutes, I could see 5 or 6 fire fighters approaching my car on the higher ground in front of Forrest School. Ultimately one brave fire fighter stripped off his heavy outer uniform and gear and started toward me. I could see that, indeed, the water was up to his thighs. He helped me out of my car into the cold water which was also up to my thighs, and then helped me across the road to higher ground, and then walked me the short walk back down Todds Lane until he could see I had made it safely into my apartment complex.

I've lived in Hampton, in the Todds Lane area, for 50 years and I've never seen flooding like that. I think this contributed to what I now know was a bad decision to try to make it to 7-11 during a "flash flood warning".

I want to thank the Hampton Police dispatcher and the great guys of the North Hampton Fire Department for coming to my aid tonight. You are very much appreciated!!!