Extreme flooding slams the area; states of emergency in Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair

BETHEL PARK, Pa. — Extreme flooding slammed the area Wednesday as relentless rain and storms hovered over certain communities.

As water took over roads and buildings, there were reports of people trapped and buildings collapsing.

The light rail blue line is closed indefinitely due to flood damage.

Bridgeville

The body of a woman who was reported missing amid Wednesday night’s flooding was recovered Thursday in a creek in Bridgeville, police said.

Wendy Abbott, 64, of Upper St. Clair, was reported missing by a family member, police said. Her vehicle was found abandoned in the area of McLaughlin Run and Morrow roads.

Abbott’s body was pulled Thursday morning from McLaughlin Run Creek. Police said she was an “apparent flood victim.”  Police are investigating Abbott’s death.

People were rescued from rising floodwaters on Baldwin Road in Bridgeville.

Beaver County water rescue teams were called in to assist Allegheny County crews.

More than a dozen dogs and cats were rescued from the K9 Club, an animal day care center that flooded.

Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair have been placed under states of emergency.

Disaster Assessment Teams from the American Red Cross are surveying the damage in Allegheny, Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties.

Baldwin

A creek flooded a backyard on Mercedes Street in South Baldwin.

Bethel Park

Many people got stuck at the Trolley Stop as water quickly rose.

Crews had to rescue nearly 30 people from inside the restaurant and the parking lot.

Half-eaten dinners were left on tables as people stood on chairs. Meanwhile, cars in the parking lot filled with mud and water and some were washed away.

Ligonier

At least a dozen cars were submerged in water from an overflowing Loyalhanna Creek in Ligonier.

People living in Rector said they've never seen the flooding so bad.

Part of Route 30 is closed because of flooding.

Idlewild and Soak Zone is operating on a limited basis due to flooding from the Loyalhanna Creek that runs through the park.

Guests can receive return visit tickets.

South Park

Floodwater filled the basements of homes and damaged foundations in the area of Church Street.

People living in South Park saw flooding so fierce, it crumbled the foundations of several homes.

"I thought like the whole floor had caved in, but I heard a loud bang," said Ava Umenhofer, who had a pickup truck slam into her home. "In a matter of like an hour, it just my front porch, it went all the way up on the front porch. We were trapped in there and just happened so fast."

Cox Media Group