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Worried homeowners watch landslide creep closer to homes

KILBUCK TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Homeowners in a small Allegheny County community are watching tons of earth and rock steadily move an inch an hour toward their homes.

Occupied buildings on Old Camp Horne Road in Kilbuck Township were evacuated Thursday due to the landslide.

"The forecasts with 45 mile per hour winds and more rain today ... tonight isn't good for the overall picture," said township manager Harry Dilmore.

One of the homes was condemned last week in the midst of the landslides in the area, and now that slide has apparently shifted and other homes are in danger.

The heavy rains have caused the land to shift and now soil, rocks and debris are moving closer and closer to the properties.

Emergency officials did not want to take any chances and evacuated three homes plus a house that was converted into a business.

At least eight people are impacted.

On Friday evening, Old Camp Horne Road had to be shut down due to the worsening conditions from the landslide.

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Residents told Channel 11 they’re living in fear, especially because the weather is supposed to get worse.

The landslide "started up above and now it's slumped down and pushing into the backyard, so it's going to take out at least the lower half of the house," said Tom Tomaro, a township supervisor.

"Surreal. I mean, just couldn't believe it. All the work we put into it... it's tough."

Dilmore told Channel 11 the land is sliding about an inch to an inch and a half each hour.

Emergency management officials are on hand watching and waiting because at any given time, more people could be forced out. Tomaro said his family saved what they could.

"Heirlooms, everything we could that would be of any value down the road," he said. "Gonna sit and wait it out and see how bad it actually is."

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Residents of five more homes along Camp Horne Road have been notified and police are checking on them every hour on the hour.

"Those people are all aware that they may need to get out quickly," Dilmore said.

"You feel terrible for the people, obviously, that they're losing their homes, but the feeling of helplessness of the thing is because we can't get any equipment up there, the steepness of the hill and the dangerous condition of the mud makes it impossible."

The slide started Monday morning with a water main break.

Emergency officials say the situation resulted from a combination of the break and the landslide on top of the hill.

 

Cox Media Group

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