Flooding keeps residents cautious

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State officials hope to have the new pipe installed by mid-October.

By LAURE CIOFFI

VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU

EDINBURG, Pa. — Ron Williams had to think twice about taking a trip to Cincinnati a few weeks ago when weather forecasters were calling for rain.

His home and archery business are just across the street from the section of Edinburg plagued by flooding in the last few years. A heavy rain that fell July 29 damaged 17 homes and two churches in his neighborhood.

Officials say a clogged drainage pipe along Pa. Route 551 is to blame for the backed-up rainwater which in this last flood caused damage one home's foundation.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials say they have a larger pipe and hope to have it installed soon.

Jim Struzzi, PennDOT spokesman, said the state now awaits permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection before work can begin.

"We hope to have the permit in two to three weeks and the pipe installed by mid-October," Struzzi said.

Anxiously awaiting

It can't be soon enough for Mahoning Township officials and residents.

Township Supervisor Poncho Exposito said they hope the pipe, which is two times larger than the current 36-inch one, will increase the flow and not send water cascading toward the residential area.

Jackson, Clay, Erie and First streets are most affected.

Exposito said many of the residents are still airing out their homes from the July flood.

He believed most had returned home, but the home with the most damage, a two-story home owned by Jim Fusco Jr. and his wife, was still being worked on late last week.

Hydraulic beams were in place holding up the foundation as the basement was still visible to the outside.

At the time of the last flood, Fusco said this is the second time a wall had collapsed in his home because of flooding. The first time was in 2005. Before that, the home suffered nine feet of water in the basement during another heavy rain, he said.

cioffi@vindy.com

Sunday, September 17, 2006