Flash Flooding in Pennsylvania, August 6 to 7, 2000

Widespread flash flooding problems were reported across the county, with 51 of the county's 130 municipalities reporting some degree of storm impact. Of those 51 municipalities, 15 reported significant impact, including flooding of streets and basements, washed-away property and cars, and roadway infrastructure damage. An estimated 1200 homes and businesses in those 51 communities were impacted. The Allegheny County Chief Executive's office reported the hardest-hit communities were Baldwin, Brentwood, Hays, Mt. Lebanon, West Mifflin, and the City of Pittsburgh along the Route 51/88 corridor. The town of Hays was probably the hardest hit of all the communities, with over 75 homes and 20 commercial properties reporting heavy damage. Several cars were swept away by the floodwaters, forcing the rescue of several people who were trapped in the vehicles. The water even swept away a pleasure boat parked in a private driveway. Emergency officials also rescued several people trapped in their homes by the high water. In McKeesport, a car dealership along State Route 48 saw a 3- to 4-foot high wall of water and mud ruin 35 to 40 new cars -- an estimated $2 million dollar loss. Several businesses in downtown McKeesport, along with City Hall, received minor water damage. At The Marina at McKees Point, 16 boats were lost and a pier buckled. Elsewhere across the county, numerous reports of flooded basements, stream flooding and mudslides were received throughout the evening of the 6th and early morning hours of the 7th.

Widespread flash flooding was reported across Westmoreland County with western parts of the county, in particular the Monessen, Jeanette, Smithton, Jacobs Creek and Belle Vernon areas, reporting the most problems. In Harrison City, the fire department received 30 requests for basement pumping from the flooding. County officials reported the hardest hit area was the Elks Creek housing development in Rostraver Township, where 3 homes were destroyed and 12 more needed to be evacuated. State Emergency Management officials estimate that across the county, 2 homes were destroyed, 25 homes received major damage, 60 homes receive minor damage, 3 apartment buildings received minor damage and 6 businesses were impacted. The Red Cross estimated that around 40 families were forced from their homes by the flooding.

In Washington County, the flooding from the storms damaged 250 homes or buildings. According to county officials, the McDonald, Midway and Charleroi areas were the hardest hit. In the Mount Pleasant area, 20 families were evacuated from their homes due to the threat of flooding. County officials were forced to close 10 roads during this event, and a mudslide on State Route 88 near Fredericktown kept that road closed until well into the day on the 7th.