Dangerous flash flooding gripped parts of Allegheny County on Thursday night, and the aftereffects were lingering Friday.
Oakdale and other portions of the southwestern part of the county still had, in some cases, feet of standing water. Houses were flooded. Residents evacuated.
Thursday’s rainfall marked the second time in less than two weeks that Pittsburgh set a daily record.
The NWS said it’s already the third wettest April on record and likely will become the wettest when it’s all said and done.
Here’s a look at the cleanup and recovery efforts from around the county.
Helping the homeless
Annie Cairns, senior marketing and communications director for Light of Life Rescue Mission, said flooding around River Avenue looks similar to the remnants left after last week’s storms. Luckily, it seems that people living in tents off the trails, who were displaced, didn’t return.
“Nobody, as far as I know, returned to the original flooded areas,” she said. “The homeless, the ones that had to pick up and move, they didn't go back there. It was still not in a great spot from the last time.”
Light of Life dispatched its outreach teams back to encampments across the North Side to warn them that they would see rising water levels again. But it seems that the most impact was felt outside of Pittsburgh.
Still, it doesn’t mean people won’t ever come back to the places they know. The fences the city erected near the Sue Murray Pool on the North Side are still up from 2022, because they know eventually, people will return. The encampment was shut down.
“Homeless people walk on average 10 to 15 miles per day to find food or go to familiar areas that they know they can get resources,” she said. “So for them to pick up and move, it's a big deal to them.”
But rather than giving options to erect tents elsewhere, the outreach teams encourages people to come to Light of Life for help.
“From our street outreach perspective, they are telling the homeless to come to Light of Life, get food there, be safe,” she said.
The shelter runs an engagement center during daytime hours, where people can seek refuge from the elements from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at its Voeghtly Street shelter, along with an emergency shelter.
Ms. Cairns said there has been a slight increase of those coming back to the shelter, which hits capacity on some days. It did on Friday.
“We provide resources to other shelters in the area, such as Second Avenue Commons, so that people don’t have to go back into unsafe elements outdoors,” she said. “We will offer them transportation to other shelters who have openings if needed.”
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They’re used to this in Millvale
Most days, Tim Beiber is a painter at Terry Hohman Painting in Millvale. But when Girty's Run, a tributary of the Allegheny River, overflows, he's on the cleanup crew.
When an emergency flood notification sounded in Millvale on Thursday night, Mr. Beiber knew what to expect the following day — 3 or 4 feet of water in his company's garage on Hays Street. And he knew exactly how he would spend Friday — wielding a high-powered hose, cleaning mud off the street, and throwing away ruined products.
He said they lost dozens of paint cans after water filled the garage, which is typical after heavy flooding.
But as a four-time veteran of this same post-flood routine, Mr. Beiber said he's made peace with the volatility of Girty's Run.
"It floods. You clean, and then you move on," he said. "It is now being pumped out. There’s still about 2 feet of water there. This isn’t the first time.”
— Laura Esposito
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Pittsburgh homeless encampments flooded again
Megan Pellechio, a University of Pittsburgh social work master’s student who volunteers at local encampments, said the torrential downpours over recent weeks have put encampments on the brink.
She focuses most of her work in 15- to 20-person community behind the Allegheny County Jail. Even though this encampment is not directly near the rivers, it suffers when it rains heavily, barreling down on tents.
The biggest need is pallets to raise the tents, even just by a few inches, she said. The 6-inch trench outreach workers dug has done little to keep the rising water at bay, creating a sludge of mud and puddles. She wonders how habitable this area will really be.
Some people had already laid down tarps both inside and outside their tents during last week’s flood to keep their possessions as dry as possible. Still, tents broke down and left people with soaked mattresses and clothes.
“We have enough hands, enough groups that are going down to check on them,” she said. “But we don't know how to get that water to drain. We need sandbags. Where will we get that? We have limited resources. ”
— Jordan Anderson
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Pumping out water in Oakdale
At the Oakdale Inn bar, about 6 feet above the mud-caked floors still wet from overnight flooding sits a mark commemorating how high the water rose when the remnants of Hurricane Ivan crushed the area in 2004.
Although the water that spilled over from North Branch Robinson Run creek Thursday evening did not reach the level it did during the last big flood in the borough’s collective memory, the bar will still be closed throughout the weekend while the damage is repaired.
Oakdale Inn manager Gena Hartman said there was about six feet of water in the basement this morning and about a foot-and-a-half of water pooled up on the business’s first floor.
“It ran in the front door, the back door, and came up through the basement floor,” “The basement is now being pumped out. There’s still about two feet of water there…this isn’t the first time.”
— Jacob Geanous
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Breaking down the record rainfall
Residents in parts of Allegheny County received emergency flash flood warnings from the National Weather Service shortly before 10 p.m. Thursday.
Parts of the county received 3 to 4 inches of rainfall before 9:30 p.m., said John Darnley, the observation program leader at the National Weather Service in Moon.
At least another inch of rainfall was recorded overnight.
The heavy rain came just a week after another storm system inundated municipalities across the county, already making this April the third wettest on record, Mr. Darnley said. This April is expected to take first place before it ends.
Thursday’s average of 2.77 inches of rainfall shattered the old daily record for April 12, which was previously 1.46 inches, set in 1933, according to NWS statistics. Thus far, April has seen the wettest first 11 days of any month on record.
Overall, Thursday clocked in as the 25th wettest day on record in Pittsburgh, dating to 1871.
A flood warning will remain in effect for much of Western Pennsylvania until 8 p.m.
Flooding on such a large scale hasnt been seen in Allegheny County since 2004, when the remnants of Hurricane Ivan blew through the region, Mr. Darnley said.
“Last week we had quite a bit of rain and quite a bit of flooding. And then we pack on this precipitation on top of conditions that were already saturated, that does lead to serious flooding,” Mr. Darnley said.
The intense rainfall came as the result of a storm system that traveled across the country, picking up abundant moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic seaboard along the way, and converging last night over Pittsburgh, Mr. Darnley said.
The storm system was on its way out Friday afternoon, but strong winds are expected to follow as it makes its way northeast over Lake Erie and ultimately toward New England. Showers and a possible thunderstorm are on tap for Friday night. Residents can expect up to an additional quarter of an inch of rain.
The weather service also issued a wind advisory for much of the reason, with sustained winds of 10 to 25 mph and gusts that could reach as high as 45 mph.
The advisory is in effect until 7 a.m. Saturday. The weather service warned to look out for downed trees and power lines, as the high winds combined with the soft, wet ground could make it easier for things to topple.
Rain is not expected for Saturday, though strong winds could continue through the afternoon. Sunday is expected to see a chance of light showers or thunderstorms, while Monday will be sunny with a high near 71.
— Sydney Carruth
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Sharpsburg marina inundation a ‘big problem for business’
Rob Powell, the owner of the Sharpsburg Island Marina, has spent his Friday morning in a yellow plow truck, moving trailers as water from the Allegheny River creeps closer.
He arrived at 2 a.m., when he quickly realized this flood was “the worst for us” since he started in business on 13th Street more than 18 years ago.
The docks have held steady, but the problem lies with the mud, he said — in the parking lot, in the trailers.
“It’s a big problem for business,” he said. “But we’re surviving.”
Staff at marina were still cleaning up Thursday from last week’s flooding when the river started rising again.
“It’s unreal how much (the Allegheny River) came up in 24 hours,” Carl Amenhauser, 78, said. “I’ve never seen water come up that quick.”
Mr. Amenhauser said he has a boat docked at the marina but can’t reach it.
— Sebastian Foltz
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Families evacuated in Etna
On Thursday at about 10:30 p.m., emergency crews evacuated six families who live in the area of Dewey and Martha streets in west Etna, borough Police Chief Tim Rodman said.
Residents were evacuated because of the flooding at the Dewey-Martha intersection, caused by an overflow from the borough’s sewage and stormwater system, he said.
The families were taken to nearby Emmanuel Lutheran Church and returned home at about 1:30 a.m. Friday after the water receded. About 20 homes have basement flooding in the area, Chief Rodman said.
The borough escaped flooding from Pine Creek because of flood control measures installed within several years of Hurricane Ivan, borough Manager Mary Ellen Ramage said.
With Thursday night’s heavy and sustained rain, the creek peaked at about 14.5 feet, a half-foot below flood stage, at Grant Avenue and Dewey Street.
The creek as of Friday morning had subsided.
The U.S. Geological Survey was surveying the flow rate of the creek at the intersection early Friday.
Borough officials don’t expect flooding given the weather forecast for Friday morning. However, they will continue to monitor the situation.
“The improvements made after Hurricane Ivan were substantial and have helped alleviate the severity and frequency of flooding,” Ms. Ramage said.
Projects included raising two bridges 18 inches over Pine Creek near the former Mae West Bend between Grant Avenue/Catherine Street and Route 8.
Additionally, Shaler installed massive debris catchers on Pine Creek along Route 8 to collect large trees and other items, preventing them from floating downstream to cause potential flooding in the borough, Ms. Ramage said.
“It’s unbelievable what our neighbors did for us,” she said.
Currently, Shaler and Etna split the cost of removing debris from the catchers quarterly and after storms, she said.
— Mary Ann Thomas
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‘The worst’ since Ivan: Assessing the flood damage in Oakdale
In Oakdale, all roads into town were shut down Friday morning while emergency responders from near and far grappled with flooding from the North Branch Robinson Run creek, which spilled over amid heavy rains.
At the center of town, along Clinton Avenue and Noblestown Road, firefighters pumped water from the basements of businesses and sprayed the streets to clear them of mud.
Oakdale Fire Chief Jim Snatchko said that at one point in the night, multiple Dumpsters got washed into the creek and got caught on a nearby bridge, blocking the flow of water and accelerating the flooding.
“There were five of them stacked up there that created a dam,” he said
Mr. Snatchko said he’s never seen anything like the flooding that came with Thursday’s torrential rain that began in the evening and continued throughout the night.
“This was the worst I’ve seen since Hurricane Ivan in 2004,” he said. “I’ve been in emergency services for 26 years, and I have never seen the creek come up that high and quick.”
Mr. Snatchko said fire departments from Rennerdale, Oak Ridge, North Fayette, and Imperial have assisted in the clean up efforts.
The Home Depot in North Fayette donated equipment and crews would likely be working to respond to the flooding throughout the day, he said.
“Lots of mud and debris that came down the creek from other communities,” he said. “We were hoping to have the streets open by noon, but that’s not going to happen now. I’m hoping to have the town open by early this evening. We’ll probably be out all day into the evening hours pumping out businesses.”
All businesses on Oakdale’s main drag were shut down amid the cleanup efforts, including the Oakdale Diner, where water gushed from a hose snaking down into the basement Friday morning.
Tim Conti, who owns the restaurant, said his wife and employees fled from the diner as water spilled over from the creek onto Clinton Avenue Thursday evening.
“It rises very quickly so my wife and a few other employees decided to leave,” Mr. Conti said. “They had to go out the back parking lot to get out of here otherwise they couldn’t. It rises that quickly.”
Mr. Conti said his basement flooded and a few pieces of equipment from his restaurant, including his walk-in freezer, were damaged by the water.
“It’s bad,” Mr. Conti said. “We lose work. We lose income. We lose equipment. It’s going to cost us sales for one or two days, and it's also going to cost me in equipment.”
Mr. Conti also said he believes the infrastructure and layout of the borough, including the way the creek is situated, makes flooding worse.
“It’s the way the creek is. and I think they’re going to need some engineer to look into this because this is going to reoccur, and reoccur, and reoccur,” he said.
— Jacob Geanous
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Ohio River rapidly rising
The weather service issued a flood warning for the Ohio River, which was forecast to crest at above 25 feet late Friday into Saturday — well into flood stage.
At that level, water will make its way into the fountain at Point State Park. PennDOT and the city had already closed the 10th Street Bypass, the “bathtub” section of the Parkway East and the Mon Wharf parking area.
The North Shore riverwalk and other areas around Point State Park will also likely close with the river at that level, as well as surrounding riverfront trails.
The river was at nearly 22 feet as of 10:30 a.m., a rapid rise from about 16.5 feet Thursday morning, before the heavy rain moved into the region.
Runoff that was emptying into surrounding creeks and streams eventually leads to the river, causing the rapid increase. It is expected to crest at 25.6 feet.
The rising river levels also flooded out areas along the Allegheny River, including at the Sharpsburg marina.
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Pittsburgh-area road closures
The usual suspects are closed again as runoff and drainage from surrounding tributaries will cause the Ohio River to reach flood levels for the second time in a week.
The Mon Wharf parking area was closed Friday, as was the “bathtub” section of the Parkway East and the 10th Street Bypass, officials said.
The ramp from the Fort Duquesne Bridge to the Parkway East is also closed.
PennDOT’s suggested detour around the bathtub is is:
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From westbound I-376, traffic will take the Grant Street (Exit 71A) off-ramp
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Turn left onto Fort Pitt Boulevard
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Bear left onto the westbound I-376 ramp toward Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport
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End detour
The following ramps will also be closed:
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Ramp from Grant Street to westbound I-376
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Ramp from Fifth Avenue/Boulevard of the Allies to west near Oakland
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Access from Point State Park to eastbound I-376
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Ramp from Stanwix Street to eastbound I-376
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Ramp from Market Street to eastbound I-376
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Ramp from Wood Street to eastbound I-376
The ramp from the Fort Duquesne Bridge to the outbound Parkway East is also closed.
The suggested detour for that route is:
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Take southbound I-279 to the Fort Pitt Bridge/westbound I-376
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Continue through the Fort Pitt Tunnel
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Take the Banksville Road/Route 19 (Exit 69A) exit
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Keep left and loop back to eastbound I-376, following signs for Uniontown/Route51
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Continue through the Fort Pitt Tunnel
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Stay in the right-hand lane and follow signs to eastbound I-376/Monroeville
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End detour
Additionally, several roads are closed or restricted throughout the county. Updates can be found on PennDOT’s District 11 website.
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Water rescues in Oakdale
Areas in and around Oakdale and South Fayette in southwestern Allegheny County were hit particularly hard as things escalated Thursday night.
Water rescue teams had evacuated multiple Oakdale residents along Clinton Avenue as floodwaters rose, and emergency sirens were blaring to warn residents of the dangers.
Stowe EMS personnel said at least nine people had been evacuated by boat through late Thursday evening in Oakdale. Crews said some residents would not leave their homes despite being urged to evacuate. No injuries had been reported.
Police and EMS from North Fayette also said one half of the Victoria Manor assisted living facility in North Fayette was flooded. Tenants were being moved to rooms on the other side of the facility.
Officials in Etna late Thursday night issued an emergency evacuation notice as Pine Creek breached its banks at over 14 feet. It said anyone living in designated flood zones or areas prone to flooding should leave their homes.
“Please leave the area and take any pets with you,” the borough warned in a Facebook post. “If you do not evacuate go to the highest floor of your home as emergency personnel may not be able to reach you to evacuate you.”
— Laura Esposito
First Published: April 12, 2024, 2:40 p.m.
Updated: April 13, 2024, 2:00 a.m.
