Cleanup continues in Canton Township after floodwaters ravage homes, businesses

CANTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — RPM Industries owns or leases several buildings in a business park along Jefferson Avenue in Canton Township. Employees found several inches of water in and around their warehouses after heavy downpours on Sunday.

>>> PHOTOS: Steady rain leaves local areas flooded <<<

“[It’s the] fourth time in the past 10 years we’ve had this happen,” said John Zwicker, COO. “It’s a mess, destroys our inventory, takes labor and costs to clean it up, shuts production down. It’s just horrible. Everybody is tired of it, and nothing is happening.”

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Canton Township issued a State of Emergency, as crews worked to evacuate people from their homes.

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“Somebody is going to die one day. That’s the worst thing that could happen,” Zwicker said.

It’s the latest round of flash flooding to hit Washington County after last week’s storms. Officials with the Pennsylvania emergency management agency were out surveying the damage on Monday. Gerald Coleman, Washington County public safety director, told Channel 11 those damage reports could help to be part of a long-term solution. He does believe, however, there’s a lot to consider.

https://crisistrack.juvare.com/public/washingtonPA/request.html

“When you’re dealing with creeks and streams, you have to watch what you do in one municipality so you don’t make a situation worse in another, so they all have to work together,” Coleman said.

“Our communities have endured repeated flooding this month, threatening homes, businesses and even reopening the sinkhole behind the South Strabane Fire Department. After touring the damage with Commissioner Electra Janis, I reengaged the local, county and federal partners involved in the flood-mitigation planning that began in 2018. On Wednesday, I will meet with local leaders, engineers and other stakeholders to identify practical steps we can move forward now. This problem is not new, but the need for action has never been clearer—and we must work together to better protect our residents and first responders,” said Senator Camera Bartolotta.

Business owners are begging for even a short-term strategy.

“We know it’s not an easy solution. Chartiers Creek runs all the way up to McKees Rocks, and you can’t dredge one section without doing the other, but there is a lot of things you can do. There’s debris all along the creek side, there’s brush,” Zwicker said.

As Channel 11 has reported, a study is underway from the Army Corps of Engineers, looking into recurring flood risks of Chartiers Creek. Tom Brown, Dam and Levee Safety Program Manager, sent this statement on Monday:

“Canton Township is within the study area being evaluated in the Chartiers Creek General Investigation Feasibility Study. The Corps of Engineers is partnering with the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission to conduct the study. The study identifies Canton Township as an area with flood risk.

The study team has not finalized the flood risk management measures; therefore, it’s too early to say whether we can directly address flooding in Canton.

However, community engagement on flooding helps us better understand the nature, intensity, and frequency of flooding in the Chartiers Creek watershed, allowing us to more effectively address flood risk. The public can share input on the study at celrp.chartiers.creek.gi@usace.army.mil."

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