Fayette flash floods displace 50 families; damage estimated in millions
The sight of a pack of volunteers with garbage bags and capable hands brought Glenn Siple to tears Tuesday.
As he composed himself on the sidewalk in front of his flood-ravaged Connellsville home, the group quickly went to work, hauling out mud-covered appliances and furniture.
A 4-foot-high line of muck stained the front of his home of 24 years.
“This is our life,” he said, gesturing toward his possessions piled on the sidewalk. “This is everything right here. All going to the Dumpster.”
More than 50 families who live in the city and Bullskin and Connellsville townships were displaced by flash floods Sunday night, said Fayette County emergency management coordinator Guy Napolillo. At least 30 homes in Connellsville alone are uninhabitable, he said.
He estimated it will “take several million” dollars to restore homes, personal property and infrastructure.
County officials, working with Pennsylvania Emergency Management representatives for a second day, applied for the emergency declarations that could result in federal and state aid and low-interest loans. The Red Cross began accepting applications for assistance at the Connellsville Township fire hall Tuesday.
“I have to tell you that I believe it is an absolute miracle nobody died,” Napolillo said. “The descriptions I received from many who were forced to flee their homes in waist-deep, rushing waters. ... I truly believe that the bright spot in all of this is that nobody died.”
Jeff Layton, assistant fire chief and Connellsville's emergency management coordinator, said a 12-hour curfew initiated Monday night to protect damaged homes from gawkers and potential looters went well, and the curfew may be extended for a few more days.
The New Haven fire station Tuesday was ground zero for residents and businesses who dropped off everything from cases of bottled water and cleaning supplies to piles of clothing and a smorgasbord: pizza, hoagies, cookies and doughnuts, a watermelon. Among the constant stream of people through the doors were schoolchildren helping victims load their vehicles with necessities and teachers from the Connellsville Area School District sorting donated goods.
“It's what you're supposed to do,” said Lynda Sparks of community service group Andy's Army. “It's the right thing.”
Carlee Shreve, a high school sophomore, said at first, she was happy when Connellsville Area School District officials canceled classes until Sept. 6. But after volunteering at the fire station with her mother, she realized the hardships people are facing.
“When I first came here I didn't realize what was happening,” Carlee said. “There's people coming in here crying, covered in mud. I'm so grateful I get to help them.”
The Salvation Army is dishing up three meals a day for 200 from portable canteens, and many businesses have sent prepared food. Shallenberger Construction lent equipment to Connellsville to help to reopen streets.
“We've been really impressed with the outpouring from volunteer organizations, businesses and charitable organizations, but we certainly still need help,” Napolillo said. “This is not going to be over in a couple of days. It's going to be weeks and months of work ahead.”
Chip Rowan, executive director of Connellsville Area Community Ministries, said the ecumenical ministry is seeking donations to supply the Salvation Army with enough food for at least a week.
“The outpouring has been great so far,” Rowan said. “We have a lot of water and bleach donations. But in the long run, we're going to need monetary donations to assist residents who have lost their hot-water heaters and furnaces.”
In the Dutch Bottom neighborhood, heavy machinery scooped water-logged, muddy household goods and appliances from sidewalks to large trash bins set up nearby. For some, it was everything they own. Four Connellsville yearbooks pulled from the water lay open on a bench, drying in the midday sun.
Mountz Creek, now a quiet, shallow stream, showed no evidence of the destruction it brought two days earlier.
Roxanne Uphold and her fiance, Jayson Guth, weren't home when the water rushed over its banks. On Monday morning, they found mud coating everything inside their house. Their cat, Frankie, survived.
“We said a prayer,” Uphold said. “We said we're going to take it one day at a time, one step at a time.”
Then, volunteers showed up to help. “We couldn't have done it without them,” Guth said.
“It's encouragement,” Uphold said. “It would take weeks and weeks (to clean).”
The couple isn't sure what the future holds.
“That's what everyone's saying — ‘What do we do next?' ” Uphold said.
“To me, it's complete devastation,” Guth said. “All our possessions are gone.”
Renatta Signorini and Paul Peirce are Tribune-Review staff writers. Reach her at 724-837-5374 or rsignorini@tribweb.com. Reach him at 724-850-2860 or ppeirce@tribweb.com.
