Intense Storms Cause Widespread Damage, Flooding
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Severe weather led to flooding and lightning strikes in parts of our area Sunday night.
One instance of flooding happened on Harold Drive in North Huntingdon, where firefighters pumped water out of several homes.
There is a creek that runs through the neighborhood, which spilled over its banks. As a result, it left debris in yards and thick mud on the roadway.
Firefighters said they also had about six calls for lightning strikes in the area.
In Adams Township, Butler County, a townhouse community had to be evacuated after one such lightning strike.
The North Adams Point complex was evacuated after lightning sparked a fire in the ceiling of one of the homes. That unit suffered heavy smoke damage throughout.
"Saw that the lightning strike was really big. It was a big, loud boom and the flash was so big," Ken Martin, a neighbor, said.
"Well, I'm in the next building over and I was watching TV and it was a loud explosion, a bright light and the fire department came later," Bill Puschaver said.
Butler County 911 reported 49 calls overnight related to bad weather.
Butler Township's Public Works Department reopened Saw Mill Run Road after it was closed by downed trees.
"It's actually been real busy the last 14 hours, for sure. We had a total of three road blockages from trees," said Tom Knight, of the Public Works Department.
Sunday's storms also set off tornado warnings in several parts of our area.
At one point, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Clairton, or near McKeesport.
KDKA viewer Rachel Hobson posted a video of what looks like a possible funnel cloud or tornado near Mt. Vernon.
In Downtown Pittsburgh, strong winds and torrential rains brought an early end to the three rivers arts festival.
Benjamin Booker suspended his concert on the stage at the point because of the weather. In the meantime, artists and vendors in gateway plaza packed up and moved out quickly.
The weather was still causing problems Monday morning. Bill Knox Sr. heard a loud boom that shook his house in West Deer Township. When he looked outside a 40-foot tall oak tree in his back yard came down, smashing into half of his house.
"The living room is gone, the kitchen, and I don't know what else," said Knox.
His son Bill Jr. was sitting at the kitchen table when the tree crashed through the roof and the ceiling.
"Having breakfast at the kitchen table and the next thing you know, I'm flat down on the floor on my stomach. The tree fell through the house and hit me in the back and smashed me, basically," said Knox's son.
Bill Jr. went to the emergency room, but was not hurt seriously. No one else was hurt, but the house is too badly damaged to live in.
Knox says there were no high winds and storm was over when the tree came down, but the ground was already saturated.
"No rain, it was quiet and it just came down. I don't know what caused it. I think it's the old ground's too wet," said Knox.
Due to the amount of rain that fell, Flash Flood Watches remain in effect for much of the viewing area.
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