Some Shaler Residents Avoid Flooding
SHALER (KDKA) -- Three years ago, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved $1.5 million to demolish or improve flood-prone homes along Pine Creek in Shaler after Hurricane Ivan flooded the town.
Today, when Pine Creek spilled over its banks, Shaler resident Dean Leaper was ready. He used $30,000 from FEMA to build a higher foundation for his house above the flood stage.
"I raised my house seven-and-a-half feet," Leaper said. "I feel good that raising my house helped me. We love the creek."
Other houses were also raised.
But not all of the homes escaped the water. A clogged sewer flooded a garage at one house.
"We got about six to eight inches of water in the basement. We're trying to pump it out. We got three pumps going," Steven Wagner said of his parents' home.
"There's just an abundance of water just going through and the lines just can't take it," Keith Boyd of Shaler Township Public Works Department said of the flooding.
Before the day is out, Shaler work crews may be on snow call.
"All the trucks are ready to go," Boyd said.
