Broken Pipe Forces Residents Out Of Wilmerding Apartment Building
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A broken pipe forced dozens of people from their apartments in Wilmerding over the weekend.
The pipe burst sometime early Sunday morning at the building on Commerce Street.
The water damaged the electrical system in the entire building.
One woman says the water was coming down so hard, she thought it was raining outside.
"I woke up this morning and I was like, 'Dang, it's raining hard outside.' I got up, went to the living room, it was raining in my apartment," said Denise Rivers.
There are 25 units in the building, all of which had to be evacuated.
The Red Cross has set up a shelter at the Pitcairn Fire Hall until everyone has a place to stay. The shelter has been set up at the Pitcairn Volunteer Fire Department No 1.
"We had to evacuate the building because there were electrical cords out of the ceiling and water was coming out," resident Qualin Sebree said. "It was horrible."
Qualin Sebree and his family stayed at the Red Cross shelter overnight. He says he's frustrated they can't go home.
"We were just sleeping and my girl says. 'Wake up, we have to leave," Sebree said.
"As long as there are clients displaced and they don't have a place to stay, we will remain open and make sure they're taken care of," Timothy Yorty with the Red Cross said.
No one is being allowed back into the building and officials are unsure when, or if people will be able to return home.
KDKA's Amy Wadas called the landlord, but hasn't heard back.
Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter
