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Heavy rains cause some major flooding in area

By Frances Borsodi Zajac fzajac@heraldstandard.Com 8 min read
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Uniontown businessman Steve Neubauer, right, stands with his son, Joe, Saturday afternoon in front of their property at 32 Iowa Street that was affected by flooding. Neubauer said, “We just watched the water rise and there was nothing we could do.’’

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Route 201 into Fayette City was closed Saturday night into Sunday as flooding from Monongahela River backed up onto the roadway. The Mon River rose above flood stage after heavy rain fell Friday afternoon into Saturday morning.

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Sharon Wallach

The Greene Cove Yacht Club along Ten Mile Creek just outside of Millsboro in Washington County was quickly submerged as the Monongahela River continued to rise Saturday after heavy rains fell Friday and early Saturday morning.

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A vehicle became trapped after attempting to navigate through 3 feet of water along a flooded Nelson Road in Farmington Friday evening. A Friday afternoon storm dropped nearly 3 inches of rain in the area.

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Tons of debris is backed up at Lock 4 in Charleroi Sunday. The Monongahela River rose above flood stage after heavy rain fell in the area Friday afternoon into Saturday morning.

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This is a look at Redstone Creek behind Uniontown Public Library on Jefferson Avenue Saturday. Rains late Friday and early Saturday morning caused flooding of Redstone Creek that affected local roads and businesses.

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Penny Iams, letter carrier, can be seen loading a mail vehicle Saturday afternoon behind the Uniontown post office, which was affected by flooding. Behind her, flood waters can still be seen on Iowa Street.

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Diane Palm

The Aquatorium in Monongahela was mostly underwater Sunday as the Mon River rose above flood stage after heavy rain fell Friday afternoon into Saturday morning.

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Mud can be seen along South Gallatin Avenue in Uniontown Saturday afternoon as flood waters started to recede. Rain from a slow-moving storm caused flash flooding in the city Friday night and early Saturday morning with Mayor Bernie Kasievich declaring a state of emergency.

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The intersection of South Mount Vernon Avenue, Dixon Boulevard and Lebanon Street in Uniontown is submerged under a water. A Friday afternoon storm dropped nearly 3 inches of rain in the area.

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Michael Palm |Herald-Standard

Members of the Bruderhof New Meadow Run Community in Farmington clear belongings from an office trailer after flashing flooding submerged part of the property in 2-3 feet of water after a Friday night storm dropped nearly 3 inches of rain in the area.

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Michael Palm | Herald-Standard

East Church Street in Uniontown is blocked off after flooding submerged part of the roadway. A Friday afternoon storm dropped nearly 3 inches of rain in the area.

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Iowa Street in Uniontown was completely submerged on July 28 after Redstone Creek flooded its banks. The storm dropped 3-5 inches of rain in the area.

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South Gallatin Ave. in Uniontown is blocked off after flooding submerged part of the roadway. A Friday afternoon storm dropped nearly 3 inches of rain in the area.

Frances Borsodi Zajac | Herald-Standard

Heavy rains that struck the district Friday into Saturday caused flooding throughout Fayette, Greene and Washington counties, closing several roadways, affecting buildings and causing some residents to be temporarily evacuated. Digital reporter Fran Zajac talks with Steve Neubauer whose business was damaged by the flooding.

Heavy rains that struck the district Friday into Saturday caused flooding throughout Fayette, Greene and Washington counties, closing several roadways, affecting buildings and causing some residents to be temporarily evacuated.

“It was coming down the hill, coming down the road, it was coming from everywhere — all of a sudden, boom, we were covered with water,” said Donni Ringer, front-of-the-house manager for the Stone House Restaurant and Inn, located on Route 40 in Farmington, which experienced flooding in its parking lot that reached the high porch.

Rihann Gangat, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh, said 3 to 4 inches of rain from a slow-moving storm fell on southern Fayette County, eastern Greene County and the Mon Valley from Friday morning through 2 p.m. Saturday.

While the rain moved off to the southeast, Gangat said runoff water was causing the Monongahela River to rise, with the National Weather Service issuing a flood warning until 1 p.m. for Point Marion, Grays Landing, Maxwell, Charleroi and Elizabeth.

“While it stopped raining, all the creeks and downhill water is reaching the river,” he explained.

Gangat gave water levels for the following Mon River communities as of Saturday afternoon:

Point Marion was at 27.3 feet with a flood stage at 26 feet. Water was expected to rise to 30.1 feet, considered major flooding.

Grays Landing was at 21.97 feet with a flood stage at 21 feet. Water was expected to reach 23.4 feet, considered minor flooding.

Maxwell was at 26.65 feet with a flood stage at 32 feet. Water was expected to reach 32.8 feet.

Charleroi was at 25 feet with a flood stage at 28 feet. Water was expected to rise to 34.6 feet, considered moderate flooding.

Elizabeth was at 18.69 feet with a flood stage at 20 feet. Water was expected to reach 25.9 feet with moderate flooding.

Gangat said, “The water will crest Saturday night and begin to recede and reach below flood stage by late Sunday morning and early Sunday afternoon.”

A dispatcher for Greene County 911, Saturday afternoon, said communities affected by flooding included Brave, Carmichaels and Sycamore. He said first responders were called to pump out basements and rescue a few people who were stranded in their vehicles.

A report to identify affected communities was not available from Washington County 911, Saturday, as operators indicated they were busy answering calls.

Susan Kozak-Griffith of Fayette County EMA/911, reported Saturday afternoon affected municipalities in Fayette County included Uniontown, Fairchance, Masontown and South Union, North Union, Georges, German, Redstone, Springhill, Wharton and Henry Clay townships. She anticipated this would change with flooding along the Mon River.

“Local fire departments, street departments, water rescue teams, PennDOT and local Emergency Management coordinators worked diligently throughout Friday evening into Saturday helping residents as emergencies and the water rose,” she reported in a press release.

They responded to roadway flooding, residential and business basement flooding and rescues of people attempting to drive through flood waters, the press release noted.

Uniontown Mayor Bernie Kasievich declared a state of emergency at about 11:30 p.m. Friday.

“About 10, it was pretty bad. By 11, it started receding, but at 2:30, we had a second round of rain and the creek was rising — trickling over again, so we’re not clear at this point yet,” he said Saturday morning. “But we’re opening some roadways. Crews are clearing debris.”

Kasievich said rising water from Redstone Creek caused flooding in the vicinity of Grant Street Park, the lower grassy lot at Uniontown Area High School, street department building, area in front of Bailey Park, the post office on Fayette Street and some businesses as well as Marshall Park, Uniontown Public Library and Fayette County Community Action. He said water came close to the fire department.

The mayor said the city closed Grant and Iowa streets and parts of Beeson, Penn, Gallatin, Fayette, Main, Dunbar, Church, Derrick and Jane.

Kasievich noted several people damaged their vehicles by driving into water and said, “I stress when people see an emergency situation where there is a road barrier, they are not to go around it.”

State police in Uniontown sent out information Friday night received from emergency responders, asking residents “to remain off roadways if possible due to flash flooding in many areas” and, “If traveling, to use extreme caution and do not attempt to travel through flooded areas. Numerous emergency resources are operating at this time.”

The press release advised, “Special attention to the South Union Township, Hopwood and Georges Township area,” and noted, “The area of Redstone Furnace Road and surrounding areas of Hopwood are most impacted at this time.”

Kasevich said some residents of Marshall Manor, a high-rise senior living building, were moved into the community room for several hours because water was getting close to the breaker box.

In a Friday night press release, Fayette EMA reported, “Evacuation of residents from the lower Gallatin Avenue area of Uniontown City has taken place and those individuals are at the Uniontown Central Fire Station.”

A representative at Uniontown’s Central Fire Station late Saturday morning said those evacuated had gone home.

In the mountains, Ringer at the Stone House believes debris clogged drains, causing water in the parking lot to rise to the porch and across the road Friday. She said two cars in the parking lot were partially submerged.

Ringer said the business remained open, while Kim Coddington, general manager, called 911 for help with everyone on staff helping and the Farmington Volunteer Fire Department responding to clear drains and pump water.

“We have a really good staff. Everyone pitched in and worked as a team,” said Ringer, also expressing appreciation to the fire department.

Chip Nelson, site manager, said weekend rain caused some flooding at Fort Necessity National Battlefield in Wharton Township.

“The water came up and covered the bridges that cross Meadow Run and Indian Run by the fort,” said Nelson late Saturday morning. “It’s way down today. The park is open and Friendship Hill (National Historic Site in Springhill Township) as well. There is still a lot of water on the trails at Friendship Hill but they’re open. There’s no major damage as we have ascertained yet.”

First responders remained busy Saturday.

Jodie Victor, shift supervisor at Fayette County 911, said Saturday morning, “We have flooded roadways but, right now, we’re getting calls about basements that are flooded. We have sent fire departments out to pump basements.”

Uniontown Public Library placed a notice on its website, noting was closed Saturday due to flooding from Redstone Creek.

Across from the library on the other side of a still-flooded Iowa Street, Uniontown businessman Steve Neubauer stood on the sidewalk Saturday afternoon with his son, Joe, and friends who came to help clean up his property, which was formerly a kindergarten center for the Uniontown Area School District that Neubauer uses as storage. The water was receding but had risen about 40 inches inside the building.

Neubauer said he was alerted to flooding Friday evening.

“Everything seemed to be okay. The creek was rising but by 8 o’clock, everything was flooded and we just watched the water rise and there was nothing we could do,” he said. “From the time I first observed this, we parked a refrigerated truck in our grass lot here — there was nothing there — and within 20 minutes, the rear wheels of the truck had eight inches of water up on them. So we started moving vans and bracing ourselves.”

Neubauer said water had damaged the door to the building and he was hoping to get help to go inside and see what could be done.

A spokesman for Westmoreland County 911 said Saturday afternoon there was virtually no flooding in the county, except for some Friday near Armstrong County that has receded.

When contacted Saturday morning, Connellsville Mayor Greg Lincoln said the community was not expecting to receive significant flooding but was prepared.

“If calls come for flooding basements, our fire department is ready. Our public works department is ready,” Lincoln said. ” If flooding does occur, we are ready to react.”

A press release from the American Red Cross Saturday said it is mobilizing teams of volunteers to assess residents’ needs in parts of Allegheny, Fayette and Washington counties due to overnight flash flooding.

“In Washington County, volunteers are focusing their efforts in Finleyville and Washington City. Outside of Finleyville, a shelter has been opened at the New Eagle Recreation Hall (156 Chess St.) for residents in that area. So far, 10 people have come through the shelter. At this time, only two remain in the facility,” reported the release, noting a team will assess homes in Masontown, Uniontown and Fairchance in Fayette County.

Anyone who needs Red Cross assistance due to flooding should call 888-217-9599 and select option 1. Updates will be provided on Twitter @RedCrossWPA.

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