Flash Flooding Closes Roads, Causes Creeks To Overflow
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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The heavy rain and thunderstorms that rumbled through western Pennsylvania late Friday afternoon left roads and basements flooded and resulted in flash flood warnings from the National Weather Service.
In Sewickley Township, Westmoreland County, a small bridge over Oak Creek Drive was washed away by torrents of water caused by the downpours.
Terry Stafford lives near the bridge, he said the rain came down in sheets.
"Like you were in a car wash," he said. "I couldn't keep up with the water. The bridge down here washed out. It never did that in the past. It just kept raining. It kept coming down and coming down really hard."
A short distance away, off the West Newton-Herminie Road, a normally small creek overflowed its banks, flooding homes and yards. One mobile home was knocked off its foundation.
Watch Ross Guidotti's report --
In South Park, Allegheny County, a section of Cochran Mills Road was shut down temporarily because of flooding after a creek called Licks Run overflowed.
People who live nearby say the flooding is always a threat, and they blame it on debris and sediment that has clogged the creek.
Dave Kayser has a house alongside Licks Run. He says he can't live there any longer.
"This would be the sixth time I've been flooded. June 20 was when my house was condemned by the fire department," Kayser said. "I had to move out. All my utilities are destroyed in there. I had close to 7 feet of water in the basement."
Duquesne Light and West Penn Power said only a few customers lost power.
Watch David Highfield's report --
Quickly rising flood waters caused problems for at least two cars in Washington County.
A couple who were both on crutches were driving on Washington Street in the city of Washington Friday when they say water rose quickly.
The driver says the car stalled out, and they decided not to try to get out of the vehicle. Instead, they waited for firefighters to rescue them.
Nearby, customers at the City Mission Hidden Treasures thrift store were unable to leave to get their cars parked across the flooded street.
The store itself flooded last year, but fortunately the water did not go that high Friday night.
Meanwhile across town, part of Chestnut Street flooded in Canton Township. Witnesses say a car was picked up and moved by the water.
The water receded, but a motel parking lot remained flooded, forcing management to set up a pump to try to get rid of the water.