Repeated flooding along Chartiers Creek has left businesses and homeowners in Canton Township demanding action. After heavy rains this past Sunday caused the creek to overflow, local company RPM Industries noted that trash, a trampoline and sections of fencing have accumulated on the banks and under nearby bridges, creating a serious flood risk.
Business owners sound the alarm
RPM Industries chief operating officer John Zwicker and process‑improvement manager Lloyd Brock walked the plant’s perimeter on Monday and identified large items that could be swept into the Henderson Avenue overpass, a half‑mile downstream. Zwicker warned, “Anything that gets picked up here is going to hit that bridge… I get that floods happen, but this is negligence. Someone could die.”
Both men said that while dredging the creek may not be feasible right now because of environmental regulations, clearing debris from the banks and beneath bridges is a practical step that could reduce future flooding.
PennDOT response and permitting hurdles
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesperson Melissa Maczko said the agency is monitoring bridge structures throughout Washington County. She explained that once debris locations are identified, PennDOT schedules cleanup, but work depends on environmental permits, equipment availability and staffing.
“Some of the information that is being documented is debris buildup that has deposited under the bridge structures from heavy rainfall and flooding events,” Maczko wrote. “Once a location has been identified, the department schedules work to clear the debris away from the structures.”
Community impact and past floods
Commercial Drive, which runs alongside the creek, has flooded repeatedly since RPM opened its facility in 2013, including a notable event last March. Residents of a nearby mobile‑home park also reported damage. Brock said, “I assume the creek will need to be dredged. I’ve turned to the township, county and state.”
Earlier this year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced a study of the Chartiers Creek watershed to evaluate flood‑mitigation options. Corps spokesperson Andrew Byrne said the study is in the “assessment and evaluation phase,” though details on scope and timeline remain unclear.
County officials assess damage and seek aid
Washington County public‑safety officials, joined by Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency representatives, conducted a damage assessment after the September 12 storm. Public‑Safety Director Gerry Coleman said the county is compiling a “crisis track” to determine eligibility for disaster‑relief funding.
“It just rained so hard and so long Sunday,” Coleman said. “We’re still compiling a damage assessment.”
Wider flooding across the county
Social‑media posts showed extensive flooding across central Washington County, including at Mingo Creek County Park in Nottingham Township, where walking paths and roadways were submerged. County officials reported no damage to park facilities.
In South Strabane Township, a kayaker attempting to assist stranded residents at the FOP Lodge 447 was rescued after being swept into a tree by strong currents. North Strabane Public‑Safety Director Mark Grimm emphasized the need for respect of the water’s power, noting the area’s saturated ground leaves little room for runoff.
What’s next?
Local leaders, business owners and residents are urging faster debris removal, clearer communication from PennDOT, and continued study by the Army Corps. While long‑term solutions such as dredging face regulatory hurdles, immediate action on visible obstructions could lessen the severity of future floods and protect lives and livelihoods along Chartiers Creek.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
