Connoquenessing Creek Flooding Prompts Voluntary Evacuations
ELLWOOD CITY (KDKA) -- Homes along the Connoquenessing Creek in Beaver County were surrounded by water following the heavy rains of the last two days.
Because of that, voluntary evacuations were put in the place today in areas of Franklin Township and Ellwood City. But residents there are use to high waters, and many say unless ordered, they're not going anywhere.
Gail Hipple is on her own flash flood watch.
She's lived along the banks of the Connoquenessing Creek for years, and she's had a lot of water in her home.
KDKA's Marty Griffin: "How much water have you seen in your house?"
Hipple: "Six foot."
Griffin: "And you stayed?"
Hipple: "Yes."
People in the area are used to it. They got slammed in 2004, flooded twice in two weeks when the remnants of Hurricanes Ivan and Frances hit.
For them, this current flooding is a mere blip on the weather radar.
"When it's not flooding it's very nice and quiet, peaceful. I don't want to move," said Hipple.
Hipple's son lives across the street, her daughter next door. They've all been flooded out. Regardless, they are staying.
"It has been in the yard, up to the porch. It's just, we just deal with it," said LouAnne Fritzley.
That attitude has been passed on. The youngsters are using the flooding to take out their kayaks and rafts.
None of the residents have insurance, but say grant money is soon on the way to help them. The homes will lifted and built above the flood plain.
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