Woman rescued on roadway as high floodwaters hit Elizabeth Township

Her car became trapped Thursday morning along Happy Hollow Road.

Heavy rain inundated roads and properties across Elizabeth Township Thursday morning, prompting a swift-water rescue after a woman became trapped on a vehicle as floodwater rose to its hood.

The rescue unfolded around 8:20 a.m. near 1101 Happy Hollow Road, where Blaine Hill Volunteer Fire Company and Elizabeth Borough Volunteer Fire Company were dispatched for a vehicle stuck in floodwater with an occupant trapped.

Elizabeth Township police arrived and found a woman standing on top of her vehicle with water up to the hood, according to Blaine Hill VFC.

Elizabeth Borough VFC’s swift-water rescue team was deployed and successfully rescued the woman, who was the vehicle’s only occupant.

Crews remained at the scene as floodwaters receded, while additional firefighters responded to multiple flooded basements throughout the township.

Blaine Hill VFC said Elizabeth Township Fire Department, Buena Vista VFC, Citizens’ Hose Co. No. 1 of Glassport and Jefferson Hills Fire-Rescue also assisted.

The rescue was among several emergencies reported Thursday morning as downpours sent water rushing across roads, through yards and around homes in Elizabeth Township and neighboring communities.

The Elizabeth Township Fire Department warned residents that multiple areas of the township were experiencing flooding and urged motorists to stay out of standing or moving water.

Video shared Thursday morning from Rock Run Road near Butler’s Golf Course showed muddy, fast-moving water rushing alongside and across the roadway.

The person who posted the video said ponds on the golf course were overflowing, sending water down from the course.

Firefighters were also called to the 500 block of Rock Run Road, where floodwaters were reported near the porch of a residence and a swift-water rescue team was requested to assist a resident who potentially needed help leaving the home.

Flooding was also reported around Scenery Drive and Cowan Drive.

Video posted from the area around 8:45 a.m. showed water flowing across the roadway.

In Buena Vista, water covered portions of the road near the former Daugherty Tool and Die property.

A resident who posted photos said the road was passable at the time but urged motorists to drive slowly. The resident also reported that the water washed out a driveway.

Reports of flooding extended into surrounding communities.

Residents in a Finleyville-area community group reported significant flooding along Route 88 between Ginger Hill and Finleyville Thursday morning, while another resident described conditions in Walton as “a mess.”

One resident said a creek that is normally only about 2 feet wide had risen by at least 3 feet and spread across a large portion of a nearby yard.

The flooding also disrupted services in the Elizabeth Forward area.

Meals on Wheels of Elizabeth Forward said many roads in Elizabeth Township were either flooded or blocked Thursday, complicating efforts to make deliveries.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the area Thursday morning, describing the situation as dangerous and life-threatening.

An emergency alert sent to phones in the affected area advised people not to travel unless they were fleeing an area subject to flooding or were under an evacuation order. The warning was in effect until 2:15 p.m.

Flooding impacts Washington and Greene counties

The effects of Thursday’s weather also reached Washington and Greene counties, where flooding and the potential for additional rainfall forced changes to this weekend’s EQT Washington & Greene Counties’ Covered Bridge Festival.

The Ebenezer Bridge and Henry Bridge festival sites at Mingo Creek County Park have been canceled due to flooding and concerns about the potential for more rain.

Officials said the decision was made because of concerns about safely hosting festival activities at the two sites.

The rest of the festival is expected to continue as scheduled.

Festival activities will still be held at Brownlee Covered Bridge at McGuffey Community Park; Hughes Covered Bridge in Amwell Township; McClurg Covered Bridge at Hanover Township Park; Wyit Sprowls Covered Bridge at East Finley Township Park; Pine Bank Covered Bridge at Meadowcroft Rockshelter & Historic Village; Carmichaels Covered Bridge in Carmichaels; and White Covered Bridge at Garards Fort.

Those festival sites are scheduled to operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Admission and parking are free.

Emergency officials continued to urge motorists Thursday to avoid flooded roads and find alternate routes rather than attempting to drive through high water.

Floodwater can conceal damaged or washed-out pavement, and moving water can quickly create dangerous conditions for motorists and pedestrians.