Overnight storms leave behind massive flood damage

PITTSBURGH — The overnight storms that passed through much of the Channel 11 viewing area caused severe flood damage in several areas.

Channel 11’s Dave Bondy reported that Dunbar Township, Fayette County, was one of the hardest hit areas, with visible damage and debris left behind.

Several cars were damaged or stuck in muddy water as water poured into the parking lot of Dunbar Auto Repair.

Bondy also reported that several families were forced to evacuate their homes as a precaution.

Multiple roads and bridges throughout Dunbar Township and Lemont Furnace were also forced to close because of the flooding.

Kim Reese told Bondy that the water destroyed her front yard, which she just put thousands of dollars into.

“It ripped my driveway clear off and there is asphalt lying in the middle of my yard. All of my mulch, and everything, is all gone,” Reese said.

Steve Stiner also said his yard was destroyed because of the flooding.

“All of a sudden, in a matter of 10 or 15 minutes, it was coming across the road. It backed up and plugged all the pipes. Neighbors lost everything,” Stiner said.

Renee Lauffner said furniture in her family’s basement was destroyed by mud and water.

“We have a 5-year-old who could have been downstairs at the time. He’s just learning how to swim. We are upset. We are thankful we are all together,” Lauffner said.

Floodwaters lifted a trailer off its foundation on Church Hill Road in Dunbar Township.

Nancy Phillips said, “This is the worst we ever had. It wiped out my daughters double wide completely.”

Phillips, who has lived on Church Hill Road for more than 60 years, said she has never seen the amount of flooding the township experienced overnight. Her swimming pool was filled with mud and debris left behind by the storms.

“My daughter had a fence that went the whole way around her house. Pieces are in my yard, clear down the road, everywhere,” Phillips said.

Crews from the township continue working to cleanup from the floods. The cleanup process could take days, officials said.

Meanwhile, Severe Weather Team 11 meteorologist Kevin Benson said he expects Tuesday to be warm and humid with periods of clouds and sun. He said scattered showers and isolated storms are possible at time. Benson expects the high temperature Tuesday to be about 82 degrees.

He said Tuesday night should be partly to mostly cloudy, again with the chance of scattered showers and isolated storms at time. The overnight low temperature is expected to be about 66 degrees.

According to Benson, Wednesday will be warm and humid with periods of clouds and sun. There is a chance of scattered showers and isolated storms at times. The high temperature Wednesday is expected to be about 83 degrees.

WPXI