Hardest hit was Montgomery County, Md., where crews rescued people from dozens of cars that were stuck in high water, county Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer said.
Several cars were stuck in high water at Massachusetts Avenue and Little Falls Road in Bethesda and several more at Beach Drive and Kensington Parkway in Kensington. There were other rescues in Bethesda, Silver Spring and Takoma Park.
No one was seriously injured, but one car was carried away down Sligo Creek, Piringer said. Several roads were closed, including portions of East-West Highway, Sligo Creek Parkway and Beach Drive.
Montgomery County firefighters also battled a blaze at an Ashton home that was apparently struck by lightning. No one was injured, but damage to the recently built home is estimated at $500,000.
A lightning strike was also blamed for a deck fire in Montgomery County.
District of Columbia firefighters also made several high water rescues, D.C. Fire and EMS spokesman Alan Etter said. Crews used a small boat and a ladder to get a national Zoo Police officer from his private car that was stuck in high water. The officer was not seriously injured.
Police and rescue crews also responded to numerous minor accidents caused by wet roadways.
