Washington mayor stresses drains were working during floods caused by record rainfall

WASHINGTON, Pa. — Channel 11 is learning more about the major flooding that happened in Washington County and what is being done to fix it.

Leaders want to get a better idea of the damage.

Washington Mayor JoJo Burgess showed Channel 11 where they were hit the hardest, including areas that have never experienced flooding as well as areas that are used to it to the point that they have permanent sandbags in place, which were no match for Saturday’s storm.

He said this storm was one for the record books.

“Our manhole covers had water spouting out this far, this high. The thing about it, people say, ‘Clean your drains’; our drains were working,” Burgess said.

Channel 11 met Burgess at Washington and Jefferson football field, which he said looked like a lake despite sandbags lining the outside of the stadium.

He took this photo after the creek rose six to seven feet.

Burgess’ wife shot video of a rescue on Jefferson Avenue where a mother and daughter had to climb out of their car window.

The mayor emphasized the storm drain was not clogged.

“The drains were not clogged; the drains were working correctly; the water volume was so much at the time,” Burgess stressed.

Channel 11 saw similar flash flooding across the county in areas hit multiple times this summer.

We now know Washington has experienced record rainfall with more than 12 inches since Aug. 1.

Severe Weather Team 11 meteorolgoist scott harbaugh confirmed this is Washington County’s wettest month and a half in history… since 1871.

County emergency management leaders say many home and business owners have already reported flood damage to insurance companies, but they want them to report it on the county’s online damage reporting system, in hopes this will help the county get federal money to go towards preventing future flooding.

Leaders at all levels are meeting to find a fix.

“One thing I want to express is we are not done doing what we can do,” Burgess said.

Submitting a damage report doesn’t guarantee reimbursement or assistance, but will hopefully help bring the county the financial aid these leaders say they desperately need.

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