Dewey Beach police warn of flooding as coastal storm continues

# What happened A coastal storm brought significant flooding to Dewey Beach. The Dewey Beach Police Department issued public warnings to residents, property owners and visitors because tide-driven flooding and storm effects were expected to continue through the day.

# Police instructions and limits Police told the public to move cars, trucks and SUVs parked on roads prone to flooding to higher ground. Officers will not enter floodwaters to remove or relocate vehicles that become stranded or submerged. That means if a vehicle is left in a vulnerable location and becomes stranded, owners should not expect on-scene removal by police.

Drivers were explicitly warned not to try to travel through flooded roads. The department pointed out three specific hazards:

• Water depth can be difficult to determine. A road that looks shallow may be deeper than it appears.
• Roads under floodwaters can be damaged or washed away, creating hidden hazards.
• Moving water can disable a vehicle or carry it away.

# Tide timing and how it matters The police bulletin included tide times that matter for local flooding patterns. On the Rehoboth Bay side, a high tide was expected around 11:21 a.m. The Atlantic Ocean side had a morning high tide near 7:59 a.m., and the next ocean low tide was expected around 2:06 p.m. Those tidal cycles affect which streets and low-lying areas flood and when conditions may briefly improve or worsen.

# Other expected impacts Police asked people to prepare for:

• Possible power outages and utility disruptions.
• Additional road flooding beyond the immediate high-tide periods.
• Rapidly changing conditions as the coastal storm continued to affect the area.

# Practical steps for residents and visitors

• Avoid driving through standing or flowing floodwater. Turn around and find an alternate route or wait until waters recede.
• Secure outdoor property that could be damaged or carried off by surge or wind.
• Have basic supplies ready in case of power outages: flashlights, battery-powered radio or charged phone power bank, and water.

# Where to get updates The bulletin referred readers to two mobile sources for weather and local alerts: the CoastTV weather app for radar and hourly forecasts and the WDEL app for breaking news and notifications. Use those or your preferred local weather source to track tides and storm movement.

# Bottom line Tidal timing combined with storm surge produced significant flooding in Dewey Beach. Move vehicles and avoid flooded roads. Expect utility impacts and keep monitoring local weather and police updates until conditions stabilize.