Overnight Storms Trigger Flash Flooding In Indiana County
INDIANA, Pa. (KDKA) --- Heavy rain from storms early Friday morning triggered flash flooding in Indiana County.
A Flash Flood Warning was in effect until 8:45 a.m. for central Indiana County. And since it expired, residents have been busy cleaning up the mess it left behind.
Flash Flood Warning continues for Indiana PA, Homer City PA, Clymer PA until 8:45 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/DQ7t7LvJtk
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) July 14, 2017
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The National Weather Service said emergency management officials reported multiple flooded roadways and several hundred flooded basements shortly after 5 a.m.
Wayne Avenue in White Township is partially flooded right now in Indiana County. @CBSPittsburgh #KDKA pic.twitter.com/DDp0d1dFIg
— Amy Wadas (@AmyWadas) July 14, 2017
Emergency officials told KDKA-TV they had received 30-40 reports of flooded basements in Indiana Borough and White Township, with water as deep as four feet in some of those homes.
Part of Wayne Avenue in White Township was covered in water early Friday morning. It almost looked like a little pond. The water initially stretched all the way down to Carter Street but receded in that area when KDKA got to the scene.
In nearby Indiana Borough, Marsh Run is calm now, but early Friday morning folks say it was actually raging up over a wall and washed a pile of firewood and other debris down South 7th Street.
"The neighbor had firewood stacked. The firewood and railroad ties they're out in the street and it's going to be cleaned up sooner than later, so I just started myself cleaning it up," Joe McCombie said.
McCombie spent hours cleaning up the mess.
"I'll get my trailer and we'll start picking it up," McCombie said.
The owner of the firewood came out to help once he realized what had happened.
"We just went through this a couple weeks ago with the other flood. It was up to my shorts. The wood pile stayed for that but didn't work this time. Part of living in a flood zone," Kevin Lazor said.
Down the street, volunteer firefighters pumped water out of the basement of some homes. One basement had five feet of water in it and it knocked over a washer and dryer.
"I think it's really frustrating for residents. A lot just finished cleaning their basements and now they have to start from square one again," volunteer firefighter Molly Kolesar said.
Dan McAnaulty made sure he was prepared after the last flood. He bought an extra sump pump which prevented his basement from flooding more than it did.
"I stay on top of it so only about an inch. Two weeks ago we had 10 inches before we had this," McAnulty said.
Up to 4 inches of rain with the heaviest along a line from West Lebanon through Indiana to Clymer.
— NWS Pittsburgh (@NWSPittsburgh) July 14, 2017
In southern Indiana County, the National Weather Service said radar estimates showed up to three and a half inches of rain had fallen over drainage basins that feed Blacklick Creek.
Indiana County Emergency Management responded to multiple reports of flooded homes in Indiana Borough and White Township. Also, a water rescue was underway on Old Route 119 in West Wheatfield Township around 3:45 a.m.
The Red Cross has volunteers out in Indiana County to assist individuals who were impacted by the flash flooding. They are currently providing clean-up kits and other items and are assessing the damage to the area.
A Flash Flood Watch for Fayette County, Fayette Ridges, and Greene County is in effect through Friday evening.
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