Cleanup Continues After Weekend Flooding

While people across the Alleghenies were mopping up and drying out their property after weekend flooding, it appeared the hardest hit area was Somerset County.

Officials in the county issued a disaster declaration after evacuations and flood damage. In Hollsopple, fire crews went door to door on Saturday asking people to evacuate, and on Sunday, crews were back to help those people clean up.

In recent months, there have been some political challenges in the county among the four fire departments in Conemaugh Township. In response, last week Hollsopple decided to merge with departments outside of the township. The fire chief said politics were cast aside this weekend, as the community needed all hands on deck.

"With all the departments that assisted over the weekend, I can't say enough. Everybody had a key role and we couldn't have accomplished our job without their help," said Hollsopple Fire Chief David Boyer.

In Somerset County, a stretch of Route 281 in Confluence Borough and Mount Davis Road were still closed.

Fire officials were still keeping a close eye on the Quemahoning Dam on Monday. As the ice there continues to melt, they said it could bring more problems.

Huntingdon County was another hard-hit area over the weekend after the Aughwick Creek crested in Shirleysburg, making roads and bridges inaccessible. Monday, the Emergency Management Agency director said those closed roads seem to be the only remaining problem, but many municipalities in the county are clearing debris from roads and patching new potholes.

Further, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials asked drivers in Huntingdon County to avoid Union furnace and Baree Roads.

As of Monday morning, there were still a handful of other roads closed due to flooding. In Blair County, Kettle Road was closed, and in Bedford County, Adams Run Road and Lutzville Road were both closed.

As the flood cleanup continues, many people are looking help, but the Better Business Bureau warned people to be careful about who they hire. They said, first, people should check with their insurance company to see what damage is covered. People should also check all of their appliances for damage and warranties. They should also be aware of termites that area (are) attracted to water and mildew.

If people hire a cleaning or restoration company, the bureau said to make sure people have a contract that reflects all the work they're expected to do as well as a price breakdown. People should also save all of their receipts.

Previous Stories: March 14, 2010: Evacuated Holsopple Residents Return Home March 12, 2010: Bedford County Community Tests Flood Prevention March 12, 2010: Huntingdon County Emergency Officials Prepare For Possible Flooding March 12, 2010: Flood Watches In Effect Throughout Alleghenies March 11, 2010: Communities Prepare For Potential Flooding March 10, 2010: Army Corps Of Engineers Preventing Flooding Across Region