PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh City Council met Tuesday to consider a $375,000 settlement of a lawsuit filed after deadly flash flooding on Washington Boulevard.
Four people died when water rose as high as nine feet on Aug. 19, 2011.
Kimberly Griffith, 45, of Plum; her 12-year-old daughter, Breena; and her 8-year-old daughter, Mikaela, were killed when their van became pinned against a tree as the vehicle filled with water.
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Mary Saflin, 75, of Oakmont, died after she escaped her flooded car.
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The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Allegheny County Sanitary Authority and Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority have already agreed to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in settlements.
The $375,000 would be the City of Pittsburgh’s share. If the settlement introduced Tuesday is passed, Griffith’s family would receive $300,000 - $100,000 for each family member. Saflin’s family would receive $75,000.
"Obviously, our hearts go out to the families. With the loss that they have, it could never make up for it. But at the same time we wanted to put an end to the lawsuit itself,” Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said.
The attorney representing the two families said while money is important, the main focus is making sure a similar incident never takes place.
Since the flash flooding, gates were added to block Washington Boulevard when heavy rain falls.
"That's treating the symptom, not the problem. We need a solution that's not about putting a gate down when an incident occurs but will stop the flooding from beginning in the first place,” Pittsburgh City Councilman Dan Gilman said.
The city is working on a long-term plan, but Peduto estimates it could cost billions of dollars and take 20 years to complete. He said it will take local, state and federal agencies to permanently solve the flooding issue.
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