DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Picture Rocks Volunteer Firefighters check Muncy Creek along Water Street early Monday morning.

Editors note: at 1:45 p.m. the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the eastern part of Lycoming County and Sullivan County until 4:45 p.m. The area could receive upwards of an additional two-three inches of rain.

GLEN MAWR – About two dozen residents and some pets were forced to evacuate their homes overnight Sunday due to flooding of Muncy Creek, according to Larry Ryder, Picture Rocks assistant chief.

“We tried to get everyone out of the village before the flooding, but the water just came up too fast,” Ryder said.

“The amount of rainfall varied, but Glen Mawr got about eight inches of rain in about an hour,” he said.

“We got reports of high water about 9 p.m . Sunday. The gauge measuring Muncy Creek at the Route 220 bridge then was 4.5 feet,” Picture Rocks Fire Chief Al Little said

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Rick Sprout, assistant EMA coordinator with the Picture Rocks Volunteer Fire Department, talks about his departments efforts to keep the residents safe during the flash flooding.

“In less than 45 minutes, the water rose to 11 feet. At that point, we go into action. We started warning people to get ready to evacuate their homes,” Little said.

Earlier Sunday, the creek was likely a harmless six inches to a foot, he said.

A team of about 20 firefighters went door-to-door telling people to seek higher ground, he added.

About 10:40 p.m. Picture Rocks firefighters assisted two families who were stranded in their houses that were surrounded by water.

PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette About 20 Picture Rocks volunteer firefighters worked together overnight Sunday to safely evacuate residents of Glen Mawr to higher ground. Among some of the fire company members who took part were from left: Chris Dauberman, Sara Hicks, Dylan Bower, Assistant Chief Larry Ryder and daughter Brennan Ryder.

“The calls were back-to-back. We helped two adults and their dog out out of one home. We put life preserves on them and walked them out of the flood waters,” Ryder said.

“About 150 yards away, we loaded two adults onto our rescue boat and brought them to safety,” Ryder added

Most of the evacuees were taken to the former Maneval’s Garage on Route 220, which was surrounded by floodwaters, but was not actually flooded.

“We were stranded there three to four hours overnight with the residents” Little said.

One family was forced to shelter-in- place on the second floor of their home on Route 220, south of here, because firefighters could not easily reach them, Little added.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette A PennDOT worker keeps watch on Route 220 during flooding early Monday morning near Picture Rocks.

Muncy Creek actually crested twice at about 13.5 feet; first at 4 a.m. Monday and again at 9 a.m. after a second storm came through, Little explained.

The overnight flash flood brought back memories of the 2011 Flood when Ryder and three other volunteers, along with about 30 residents, were stranded for several hours at Maneval’s Garage before the water receded.

“The 2011 Flood changed everything for us in terms of emergency preparedness,” Little said.

One year after the flood, Picture Rocks Fire Company bought two rescue boats from Plunketts Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Ryder said.

For several years now, Picture Rocks has at least a dozen firefighters who “are certified in water rescue at the highest level in the commonwealth,” Little added.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Muncy Creek rushes under the birdge at Boston Road and Water Street in Picture Rocks early Monday morning. The Picture Rocks Volunteer Fire Department went door-to-door to warn residents of the rising water.

“Clearly, we were better prepared today than we were in 2011,” he added.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Fast moving water completely covers Route 220 about a 1/2 mile north of Tivoli early Monday morning.

Task Force 80, based in Williamsport, was dispatched to Hughesville on Monday afternoon to assist with anyone stranded in a car or in a home during any additional flashflooding that might take place in the eastern part of Lycoming County. The task force, which covers 10 central Pennsylvania counties, also includes two city fire department rescue boats that responded as well and stood by at the borough's firehouse. Within 20 minutes after arriving at the fire station, the task force was called to the Lairdsville area to help with occupants reported to be stranded in a home in the Lairdsville area. However, the rescue team was recalled before reaching the scene after it was learned that the occupants got out of the home and were safe. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette

Task Force 80, based in Williamsport, was dispatched to Hughesville on Monday afternoon to assist with anyone stranded in a car or in a home during any additional flashflooding that might take place in the eastern part of Lycoming County. The task force, which covers 10 central Pennsylvania counties, also includes two city fire department rescue boats that responded as well and stood by at the borough's firehouse. Within 20 minutes after arriving at the fire station, the task force was called to the Lairdsville area to help with occupants reported to be stranded in a home in the Lairdsville area. However, the rescue team was recalled before reaching the scene after it was learned that the occupants got out of the home and were safe. PHILIP HOLMES/Sun-Gazette