2 rescued from flooding as rivers rise around Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The rising river levels have created a mess for parts of the city of Pittsburgh. Water has flooded out several popular walkways and put some people experiencing homelessness in danger.
River Rescue crews had to get people at the Mon Wharf and the North Shore Drive bridge near Acrisure Stadium.
Pittsburgh Public Safety officials say that calls came in just before 9:30 p.m. on Sunday for reports of multiple people trapped by the rising flood waters at the Mon Wharf. When first responders arrived, they said they found a homeless encampment but only saw one person.
That man was rescued using a ladder. He was not injured and needed no medical care. He was directed to a nearby shelter.
Public Safety officials say that divers searched the whole area for other people but their search came up empty.
"Out of an abundance of caution though, our River Rescue team went tent-to-tent to check to make sure there were not other individuals that were in need of rescue," Pittsburgh Public Safety Assistant Spokesperson Emily Bourne said.
Around noon Monday, crews were called out to another rescue near Acrisure Stadium. That man allegedly woke up on the supports under the bridge and saw the water levels a foot or two deep and called 911. He was rescued and given medical aid.
"Do what this individual did and call 911 as soon as possible and there are services out there for them to get some temporary shelter," Pittsburgh Public Safety Spokesperson Cara Cruz said.
The city's Office of Community Health and Safety has been going to camps for weeks, letting them know about the weather and potential for this. Three people went to shelters and others relocated. The Allegheny County Office of Equity and Equality says "code blue" shelters have opened as a result of the flooding.
"We will continue to go to these places and provide our communities with resource navigation, service referral and housing options," Pittsburgh Public Safety Assistant Director Camila Alarcon said.
In the aftermath of weather like this, missions like Light of Life will work with those experiencing homelessness after the water levels go down to assist with whatever resources were lost.
"We're able to help them there, in hopes that long-term, through that relationship and through the things we're able to provide, they eventually want to take that next step with us," Light of Life Assistant Executive Director Doug Smith said.
Pittsburgh Public Safety said the encampment at the Mon Wharf and along the Allegheny will be shut down. They will post signs and not allow people back there in light of the flooding.
For areas like the 10th Street Bypass that flooded, PennDOT will haul away all the dirt and debris once the water recedes. They will then check the road's condition before reopening it.