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Heavy Flooding Reported Throughout Western Pa.

POSTED: 1:50 pm EDT September 17, 2004
UPDATED: 11:52 pm EDT September 17, 2004

Heavy flooding is being reported across western Pennsylvania due to Friday's rain.

Here are the latest reports:

9:15 p.m. Parkway East inbound lanes are closed prior to the Oakland exit due to a landslide which is blocking all three lanes. All inbound entrance ramps from Edgewood to Oakland are closed.

8:45 p.m. A mudslide on Interstate-79 north from the Parkway West to the Mt. Nebo Road exit has traffic moving slowly.

8:45 p.m. The Pa. Turnpike is closed from mile marker 28 near Butler County to mile marker 48 near north eastern Allegheny County due to mudslides and flooding.

8 p.m. Butler County Dept. of Emergency Services has implemented a Lake Saxony Dam Evacuation Plan. Emergency management officials report the dam spillway is eroding away. Waters may rise in the small creek that leads from the dam down to Buffalo Creek in Buffalo Township. The dam is located in the back portion of Saxony Farms just west of Saxonburg. The overflow path will be across the farm property, across Alwine Rd. in Jefferson Township, then run in the valley parallel to Reimer Rd. and into the Coal Hollow area, across Rt. 356 near the intersection with Route 228 and on to Buffalo Creek. Residents should evacuate any areas that are close to the creek that runs through that area.

8 p.m. A landslide has closed a portion of Parkway East near Commercial Street.

7:52 p.m. Beaver County has opened up two shelters: Aliquippa Elementary School and Franklin Twp. Volunteer Fire Dept. Contact the Beaver-Lawrence Red Cross with questions: (724) 775-9700

7:40 p.m. Oakmont police said Allegheny River Blvd. is closed because of flooding in Oakmont.

Shaler Township has issued a mandatory water conservation order due to a power outage at the Shaler Water Plant and a water break in the system that hasn't been located. Shaler residents are asked to conserve water until further notice.

River Road in McKees Rocks is closed.

A shelter has been opened at the Hampton High School cafeteria for residents who have been evacuated from the Duncan Avenue area of lower Allison Park.

Mars Area Water Authority in Adams Twp, Butler County is asking its customers to conserve water until further notice.

  • Hughes Lake dam may be in danger of failure. Be on alert in Hanover Township, Beaver County; Hanover Township, Washington County; and Hancock County, W.Va. -- specifically in Hancock, along Kings Creek to the Ohio River, the north fork of Kings Creek and Hardins Run. A National Weather Service watch for potential dam failure is effective until 4 a.m. Saturday in Beaver and Washington counties, and Hancock County, W.Va.
  • Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for lower Shaler, Etna, West Deer and Indiana Township.
  • Shaler and Millvale officials are asking people trapped in their homes to go to the highest level of the house. Do not attempt to leave. Emergency personnel are conducting evacuations at this time and will get to trapped residents as soon as possible.
  • Butler County commissioners have issued a state of emergency declaration.
  • 7:15 p.m. Due to small stream flooding in the area WESTBOUND lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike are flooding in the area of milepost 41.7 (Gateway -- Ohio Connection). The right lane is currently flooded and not passable. Water is on the EASTBOUND and WESTBOUND lanes but is passable at this time. MOTORISTS SHOULD AVOID THE AREA!

    6:33 p.m. A neighbor on McMasters Drive in Monroeville reports 7 inches of water.

    6:30 p.m. City Councilman Doug Shields says Streets Run creek has breached the flood wall at the rear of Calera Street in the Hays seciton of Pittsburgh. Calera is under a foot of water. Hays is said to be badly flooded, with many cars submerged.

    6:20 p.m. Squaw Run Creek is completely flooded. Dumpsters are reported to be floating. Flooding is especially heavy in Fox Chapel on Old Freeport Road, below Fox Chapel Plaza.

    6:15 p.m. Allegheny Power has between 10,000 and 12,000 customers without electricity. The hardest-hit areas are Apollo, Leechburg, Kittanning and Avella. Allegheny power crews will be working through tomorrow to restore service.

    6:15 p.m. Duquesne Light has 35,000 customers without power, and the number is expected to increase. Most outages were caused by downed trees. Many customers are expected to remain in the dark until Saturday night and Sunday.

    5:38 p.m. Flooding reported at Route 909 and Greensburg Road in the Crystal Springs area of Plum. The underpass on Route 356 is flooded out and shut down.

    Reports from earlier Friday afternoon.

    If you have a flood update or know of a road closing, you can e-mail Channel 4 Action News at newsroom@thepittsburghchannel.com.

    Related links:
    DeNardo Weather Watch 4 Update
    PEMA: Flood Fact sheet

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