Flooding Plagues Armstrong County

A brief statement broadcast over Armstrong 911 Wednesday morning by a female dispatcher summed up the work conducted by many local residents and firefighters: "It's been a long day." Daylong rain Tuesday left many county residents wading through water in their basements yesterday as the Allegheny River rose sharply, threatening flooding. The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh issued flood warnings in effect until this afternoon or evening at Kittanning, Rimer, Mosgrove, Freeport, Parker City and Clinton. Moderate flooding was forecasted in Kittanning, while minor flooding was predicted in the remaining areas. Mosgrove saw the highest rainfall — 3 inches — in the county between 7 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Other locations in the county saw between 2.3 inches at Crooked Creek and 2.8 inches in Kittanning during the same time period. Kittanning is on alert and borough emergency personnel, along with streets crews, were notified of the potential for flooding, said Council President Gerald Shuster. Businesses and residents that stand to be affected first by flooding were notified by firefighters and borough workers. "We're just taking the steps that we typically take to prepare for something like this," he said. "Everybody's on the same wavelength." The first Kittanning area to typically flood is the intersection of South Water and Mulberry streets. Water will come out of the storm water system and over the riverbank at close to the same time, Shuster said. The river in Kittanning covered much of the amphitheater in Riverfront Park yesterday afternoon. The second area susceptible to flooding is Vine Street where water will push out of the storm water system, he said. Sandbags are available at Hose Company 1 along South Jefferson Street for borough residents to protect their property. Residential flooding was spread throughout the county beginning early Wednesday and continued through the day, said Vincent Cappo, HAZMAT coordinator with the county's department of public safety. "I can't say any of (the municipalities) are worse than the other," he said. "We're out there doing the best we can." At least half of the county's fire departments were assisting residents with pumping water from basements, he said. East Franklin fire department chief Mark Feeney said his first call to respond for a pumping detail came in at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday. Plenty followed throughout the day, keeping dispatchers and firefighters busy. According to Armstrong 911 records, basement flooding was reported all over the county including Kiski, Gilpin, Leechburg, Ford City, East Franklin, Pine, Parks, Rayburn and South Buffalo. Worthington-West Franklin fire department was called to the scene of a vehicle stuck on a flooded road at about 7 a.m. yesterday on Nicola Road. Firefighters were called to a residence along Franklin Avenue in Applewold yesterday morning to pump water from a basement. "Most people that have been here a long time know what to do," said Applewold firefighter Chuck Niceley. "Move stuff around and hope for the best." Another Franklin Avenue resident Faith Shaw said she and her husband spent all morning attempting to rid their basement of water they found at 4:30 a.m. yesterday. "It tore up the cement and everything," she said. "It was up over my ankles." Shaw said she wasn't sure if her washer, dryer and freezer would make it. "I don't know what we've lost yet," she said. "I can't get to it to worry about it." PennDOT closed two roads in West Franklin yesterday that were submerged by excessive water from Buffalo Creek — Nicola/Mushroom Farm Road and Craigsville/Yellow Dog Road. District press officer Deborah Casadei said once the water has receded, the roads will be inspected before they are reopened to traffic. In an advisory released at about 1:20 p.m. yesterday, the roads were expected to have been reopened by 8 p.m. Wednesday. A chance of snow is predicted through the end of the week. flooded basement long island