Allegheny County declared a disaster emergency Friday, two days after severe storms caused major flooding in Turtle Creek, Pitcairn and many other parts of the Pittsburgh region.
Water rose so quickly in some cases that there was barely time for some to get to safety -- and a second round of severe storms was being forecast Friday night.
In Turtle Creek, a street fair was still held despite the dire conditions. Crews from the borough and county have removed debris from the Thompson Run area and streets in the borough. The Red Cross and the Salvation Army are assisting residents as debris continued to be removed from the streets.
Video:
Turtle Creek Has Fair, But Little To Celebrate After FloodsNormally the fire department's largest fundraiser, a lot of people have nothing left to give and not much to celebrate.
Other than losing thousands of dollars in valuables, many have lost sentimental items that can never be replaced.
"I had an album collection that can't be replaced, baseball cards that can't be replaced -- stuff that I've saved. I mean, what are you going to do?" said Bill Leech.
Those affected by the flood waters said they're waiting for the borough and social service agencies to lend a hand.
"Nobody came and helped -- no water, no nothing. We're supposed to be in a state of emergency, where's the help at?" said Tanika Webster.
Residents said if they need help again, they'll be calling the county's 911 center, where all workers have been told they're on call this weekend.
"The emergency operations center is on high ready alert, so the center will be activated if and when the storm may come in or the bad weather may come in and will be based on conditions," said Allegheny County Chief of Emergency Services Bob Full. "There are a lot of things going on behind the scenes right now, but we're on the highest level of alert."
In Pitcairn, residents have been tossing or salvaging whatever they can.
"You have to be careful because you're dealing with fecal matter and you don't want to get infected. It's tough, but you've got to get it done," said Clair Thomas.
Garbage bags and boxes line streets covered with mud and sewage. Water company crews also worked to track down manhole covers washed away by the heavy rains.
At Jim and Lena's Market, no power has resulted in thousands of dollars worth of frozen foods, milk, cheese and meat being lost.
"These people out here on these streets get hit hard, we've been hit hard. Business owners are getting hit hard too," said employee Donna Mashione.
Other hard-hit areas included Churchill, North Braddock, White Oak, Wilkins Township and Wilkinsburg.
In Turtle Creek, Church Street was one of seven streets evacuated because of rising water.
In one home, a woman was trapped on her porch with her 18-month-old son. WTAE Channel 4's Ari Hait reported that when police and fire crews couldn't get to the family, the child's grandfather felt he had to jump into action.
"Basically I swam across the creek, the flowing water myself, and finally they came up in … a forklift truck or bobcat truck and rode me over to the house to rescue my grandson," said Joseph Onesi.
Around 80 people and 20 families had to evacuate because of the flooding, but there were no reports of any injuries, Hait reported. At 8 p.m. Wednesday about 8 feet of water covered Larimer Avenue in Turtle Creek.
Video:Storms Force Evacuations In Turtle Creek"There was cars going down, Tree trunks. Debris. Garbage cans. It was terrible," said Deb Marto, who witnessed the flood.
Once the waters receded, mud and debris were left behind.
Christina Nedz watched the foundation to her home wash away. All that's left is a hole in the side of the home.
"I was like, 'Oh my God, there goes everything.' Because we didn't have insurance, flood insurance because they wanted so much for it," said Nedz.
On Brown Avenue buses at AJ Myers bus garage were bounced around like matchbox cars, Hait reported.
"When your house is filled with mud and sludge, you just want answers. And right now, we're working to give them answers," said Turtle Creek Mayor Adam Forgie.
Route 130 East/Tri-Boro/Watkins Avenue was closed overnight from Thompson Street to McGinnis Avenue in Pitcairn. The road reopened around 1 p.m. Thursday.
The Salvation Army's Emergency Disaster Department team is helping many communities in its 28-county Western Pennsylvania Division.
Those in need of help should contact the nearest Salvation Army location listed in the White Pages or on
www.salvationarmy-wpa.org.
Monetary donations are being accepted in the following ways:
Web -
www.salvationarmy-wpa.org (designate to Emergency Disaster Services)
Phone - (800) SAL-ARMY (designate to Emergency Disaster Services to the operator)
Mail - Send checks to Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division, 700 North Bell Avenue, PO Box 742, Carnegie, Pa., 15106
(Make checks payable to The Salvation Army... note Emergency Disaster Services on the envelope and on the check
Previous Stories: - June 18, 2009: Storm Brings Record-Breaking Rain, Floods, Heavy Damage
- June 18, 2009: Turtle Creek Man Swims Down Street Toward Trapped Grandson
- June 18, 2009: Family Relies On Boat, ATV After Storm Takes Out Bridge
- June 18, 2009: Flood Rescues Made Throughout Westmoreland During Intense Storm
- June 18, 2009: Flood Damage Not Covered Under Most Insurance Policies
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- June 18, 2009: Heavy Rain Overpowers Sewage Plants, Contaminates Pittsburgh's Rivers
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