News
Mercer County hit by flash flooding
Parts of Mercer County are drying out after some spots saw as much as three-inches of rain in just a little more than an hour on Thursday.
Thursday, August 21st 2014, 4:41 PM EDT
Updated:
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21 News Meteorologist Mike Joyce said that Kinsman in Trumbull County, and Greenville in Mercer County received three inches of rain in a little more than a one hour period.
In Greenville, this pick-up truck on Stewart Avenue was left behind after it became stuck in high water and it's owner had to be rescued. A similar situation on York Street, left this mini-van behind after neighbors said the woman and three kids inside were able to wade through the water to safety.
"If it's high water, you don't even know how deep it is. Just try to find a different way because you never know what's under the water," said Sgt. Paul Molton, with the Greenville Police Department.
Eventually, the water receded revealing the damage left behind.
On Coalhill Road, neighbors all the way from the top of the hill to the bottom said they were in the path of destruction.
Lisa Burns said this sinkhole in her yard was caused by rushing water that was more than the old infrastructure and storm drain could handle.
"It had started tunneling it out from underneath, and then it just fell in," said Burns.
A couple houses down, almost two feet of rainwater flooded Kevin Middendorf's basement. And, like many on the street, he's not covered by flood insurance.
"I'm worried about my washer and dryer, I just replaced the dryer. I'm worried about my furnace and hot water tank, everything else is just kind of junk I got down here. Just mainly my appliances," said Middendorf.
At the bottom of the hill was all the debris that came from the top of the hill. Gerry Hoover fired up his tractor to help clear the roadway and his neighbors' driveways.
"I was in Sharon and I didn't get any rain. I come home and this is the mess everywhere," said Hoover.
Many neighbors agreed this was the worst flooding they have seen in recent years.
Another stranded driver had to be rescued from a truck on Hamburg Road in Hempfield Township. Also in Hempfield, the underpass at Hadley Road was closed due to flooding.