Washington County once again hit with heavy rains leading to flooding in multiple areas

It was a Sunday that people in Washington County did not expect. Once again, the county was hit with so much rain that it led to even more flooding. 

Roads, yards and parking lots were flooded throughout the county as rain poured Sunday. 

As the rain poured once again, several residents reached out to KDKA-TV to report the flooding conditions. 

Multiple people were rescued from either homes or cars in Canton Township, according to Fire Chief Dominic Sicchitano.

"We were able to rescue a few people today, no injuries that i know of," Sicchitano said. "It was about thigh-high and we were able to walk out with water rescue suits."  

Sicchitano said that crews rescued one woman whose home was threatened by rising water in the area of McClay Road.

"The water was moving very fast," Sicchitano said. 

Her neighbor, Ashlee Fattman, pointed out how the skirting around the home, which was surrounded by water, had been left damaged. 

"She's an elderly lady and she can't even stay at her house at that this point," Fattman said. "It was definitely a scary thing to have to go through."

Fattman said she was forced to think about having to evacuate herself and her pets.

"It was fast enough to knock you off your feet," said John Weaver, who lives a few minutes away and said that his side yard turned into a fast-moving creek. 

His culvert didn't stand a chance. Water washed over it, on to his yard, and covered the parking lot of a next door restaurant. His footbridge was washed out and the fence between his property and the property next door was damaged.

He told us his property floods every two to three years. So, when he saw the water rising this time, he thought, "Here we go again."

"Oh, I knew it was coming," Weaver said, referring to how he figured they'd be next after the recent flooding elsewhere in the county. 

An inch of water was left in his basement.

While KDKA's crew speaking with Sicchitano, multiple drivers ignored road closed signs and drove straight through the flood-covered street. It's something he couldnt understand why someone would risk. 

"This just puts them in danger and it puts rescuers in danger because now were gonna have to come get them," Sicchitano said, who reiterated why officials try to publicly blast the message of "turn around, don't drown."

"You can't tell how deep it is, and the other things you can't tell is whats underneath there," Sicchitano said, adding holes can open in the road surface that are hidden by the flooding.

Washington County Emergency Management is also urging residents, businesses, and municipalities to report storm-related damage. 

"We are continuing to see the impacts of severe weather across the county, and with more rain possible, it is critical that we receive information as quickly as possible," said Deputy Director of Washington County Emergency Management Dan Harvey. "Every report helps us understand the scope of the damage and determine what resources and assistance may be needed." 

In Canton Township, Washington County, a state of emergency was declared on Sunday afternoon. 

"Our area is still saturated from the rain over the last week," a social media post from the township's emergency management read. "This has caused the current rain falling to have nowhere to be absorbed and to accumulate quickly...If you are near sources of water or areas that usually flood, try to get somewhere else before it worsens. If you have emergency supplies, plan to shelter in place if needed. If you need to evacuate, have a go bag and be ready. If you evacuate, take your pets with you."

Residents in Washington County can report flooding damage online at this link.