Heavy Rains Cause Flooding, Prompt Evacuations In Westmoreland Co.
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Water rose so quickly in parts of Ligonier and Ligonier Township Friday morning, some people had to be rescued from their homes in rafts.
Regina Puschnigg saw the water rising around her home and knew it was time to get out.
"So I went back to my bedroom started to gather all my things. Came back out 15 or 20 minutes later, and it was already over our parking lot, so I couldn't get out!" said Puschnigg.
She was one of 11 people taken out of their homes in inflatable rafts in Ligonier when Mill Creek overflowed its banks.
Water was almost up to some car windows. Some roads and bridges were flooded.
"We crossed the bridge to get to one that was shut down and by the time we turned around to come the other way, the other bridge was flooded," said Leonard Mulheren, who is part of the Ligonier Township road crew.
Even the football field at Ligonier Valley High School was underwater.
"This is crazy. We've never seen this before," said Carla Arnone who stopped by to take a look.
The YMCA in Ligonier was set up as a shelter for people who had to leave their homes, but once the water began to recede, few people remained. By 2 p.m., only two people were left at the shelter.
Once the water did go down, it left behind layers of mud in flooded basements and garages.
Chief Michael Matrunics, from Ligonier Township Police, said this kind of flooding is rare: "I don't think I've seen this water this high in this region for a long time. As long as I can remember."
There were no reports of any injuries.
The flooding in Wilpen also left several backyards submerged in water.
In Beaver County, Route 68 was shut down near Industry because of flooding. Both sides of the road were covered in water.
Flash flooding was also reported on Streets Run Road this morning.
The water receded quickly, but some of it was still rushing down the road around 8:30 a.m.
The road was not shut down, but drivers were urged to use caution.
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