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Clean-Up Efforts Begin After Storms Cause Flooding

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Jun 18, 2009 8:51 am US/Eastern

Clean-Up Efforts Begin After Storms Cause Flooding

Weather: Current Conditions | Local Radar | Weather Map

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Clean-up efforts are getting underway today after Pittsburgh and its surrounding areas were hit with drenching, severe weather Wednesday night.

The heavy storms brought downpours, hail, thunder, lightning and funnel cloud sightings to the area. And they left behind lots of flooding and damage.

The storms prompted officials to declare states of emergency in Turtle Creek, Reserve Township, Wilkinsburg Borough and Forest Hills.

"Our community was having a firemen's fair, right at parade time, a little bit chaotic, and then the heave weather hit," said Chief Dale Kraeer, of the Turtle Creek Police Department. "I've been here 16 years, we've had our share of floods; this is the fastest I've seen it come."

Meanwhile, the Red Cross opened a shelter for the flood victims in the eastern suburbs.

It is located at East Allegheny High School on Jacks Run Road in North Versailles. Officials say about three dozen people spent the night there.

Officials with the city of Pittsburgh also held an emergency meeting about the damage.

"Our biggest concern in the city of Pittsburgh was urban flooding, where we had flooded streets," said Michael Huss, Pittsburgh's director of public safety. "Our EMS Bureau responded to 29 calls for people trapped in automobiles. Of those 29 calls, they performed 14 rescues."

The area of East Pittsburgh also saw some major problems from the storms.

Some residents were evacuated after water went spilling onto Electric Avenue. Officials said the sewer system there could not handle the amount of rushing water and a geyser came shooting up from the street.

The flooding Wednesday night was several feet deep in spots.

There is also some flooding concerns in the Millvale area today. There was overflow from Girty's Run Wednesday as the creek spilled its banks and sent some water into the streets.

Also, some streets were flooded in White Oak.

And some areas outside the city of Pittsburgh were also hit hard.

Water overflowed onto the road overnight on Route 119 in Greensburg, Westmoreland County, and there was also a report of a creek bed spilling over in Hopewell, Beaver County.

Stay with KDKA for the latest details.

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