Severe Flooding In New Sewickley Twp. Leads To High Water Rescues
NEW SEWICKLEY TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- The heavy rain led to some severe flooding in Beaver County.
Water overflowed the banks of Brush Creek and its tributaries in New Sewickley Township early Wednesday. This led to fields, homes and roads being flooded in the area.
Brush Creek Road had to be closed due to the high waters.
A woman was rescued from her car near the intersection of Glen Eden Road and Snyder Road. She was safely removed from the vehicle.
Minutes later, water rescue crews were deployed to Route 989 at Glen Eden Road for another water rescue. Officials told us a vehicle was stuck in up to five feet of water.
Dawn Misencik told KDKA she didn't get much sleep last night, and for good reason.
"It was scary, because my house would be the first one to go," said Misencik. "It was about 20 feet from my house."
Misencik remained inside her home on State Route 98, but others were forced out.
"I was in the bed sleeping and the New Sewickley Police called me and asked how I was doing. I told them fine, and then he asked me to get up and go check. I got up and looked and was like, 'Uh-oh, it ain't good,'" said Bill Mohr, who lives along Route 989.
Mohr was forced to evacuate.
Rescue teams were also sent to rescue people from two homes that are surrounded by water. A boat was used to reach those homes.
Mohr is no stranger to flooding either. In 2004, he had to be rescued after rains from Hurricane Ivan flooded his home. Mohr said as soon as he heard the rain falling, he kept a close watch.
"I was up at 4 o'clock this morning checking and the creek wasn't even out of its banks at that time," he said.
But that rapidly changed.
"Kind of flash flooding," said New Sewickley Township Police Chief Ronald Leindecker. "Officers reported in 30 minutes it was 2 to 3 feet above the roadway. Not something that was a slow rise. It was very quick in this incident."
Chief Leindecker says the heavy rain began to fall quickly around midnight. By 3:30 a.m., there were 911 calls from motorists trapped in their cars and residents who needed to be evacuated and rescued from their homes.
Officials also say that Route 151 had to be closed between McIntosh and Kane Roads flood waters rose in Hopewell Township. Flash flooding was also reported in parts of Allegheny County, like in Shaler Township.
No one was injured, closed roads are now re-opened and everyone is back home, but residents are worried about the possibility of more rain.
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