Residents Displaced By Apartment Roof Leak In Washington Co.

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Several apartments were flooded by an overnight roof leak in Washington, Pa.

The leak stared around 11:30 p.m. Thursday night and damaged several apartments in a building on Jefferson Avenue.

It's known around Washington County as the old Clark School building. But today, it's causing people to break down in tears and others are just angry.

"Nobody anticipated being homeless this morning," said Tuesday Wheeler, an evacuee. "Nobody anticipated having to pack all their stuff and leave."

Twenty families were forced out because the building is in such bad shape that rain started pouring through the ceiling overnight.

Many are on public assistance and have nowhere to go.

The Red Cross is helping.

"They're displaced and finding out they can't live in their home, and have about four to five hours to evacuate," said Betsy Myers, of the Red Cross. "It's been rough for them."

They hustled to get their belongings out and figure out their next move.

Many have few options. The Red Cross is putting them up in motels, but only for three days.

"I got a good job, so I'm good," said Lou, another evacuee. "But there's a lot of families that don't have a job. After three days at the hotel, what they going to do then?"

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