A water leak and power outage in Wheaton on Wednesday affected 1,000 residents and 500 apartment units, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer.
It happened at the Arrive Wheaton apartments and Safeway on Georgia Avenue. There were about five feet of water in the Safeway basement, according to Piringer. The flooding caused an estimated 300,000 gallons of water in one room. After the flooding, the power was shut off at the apartments as a precaution.
The apartment building was evacuated and residents were moved to a receiving shelter. The building was condemned as unsafe to occupy.
One resident of the apartment building who wished to remain anonymous told MCM she couldn’t figure out how to get into her home Thursday evening and only received an email saying she had to show ID to enter the building. Security vehicles blocked the front and back entrances to the apartment complex with cars lined up in the rear parking garage of residents trying to gain access to their apartments and belongings.
A 69-year-old South Four Corners resident who wanted to be identified by only her first name, Lorraine, said she had driven across town to shop at this specific store. She said it was a “huge inconvenience” to drive there no knowing about the emergency until Thursday around 5 p.m. after she arrived. A small sign handwritten in purple highlighter stating that the store is closed is not visible from the Georgia Avenue entrance.
As of around 8 p.m. Wednesday the water was pumped out. But, the timeline is unclear for repairs or if generators will be able to be installed.
8p Update Georgia Av, Wheaton Safeway & Arrive Wheaton, ‘de-watering’ complete, @mcfrs transitioned to a support role, building posted ‘Unsafe to Occupy’ Evacuation in progress, 500 apts approx 1K people & pets. No timeline on repairs or if generators will be able to be installed https://t.co/RUHybmGwJH pic.twitter.com/opV178GZXf
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) December 4, 2025
Featured photo courtesy of Piringer.
Markette Sheppard contributed to the multimedia elements of this story.
