Residents living in Town & Country Court, a mobile home park located in Canton Township, Pennsylvania, are expressing deep concerns about their homes as recent heavy rain caused a nearby creek to overflow. The flooding in Washington County has intensified fears among the residents, who say such weather events are becoming increasingly common and hazardous.
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The trouble began after a significant rainfall led to severe flooding, pushing water towards the mobile homes. Local resident Scott Hansel returned from church to find that the siding of his trailer had been dislodged. He later discovered pieces of the siding floating in the creek, a stark reminder of the destruction the flood had caused. “It was a major disaster. This work never ends,” Hansel remarked, sharing his worries about potential future floods.
Hansel is not alone in his distress. His neighbour, Daniel Oliverio, also faced the consequences of the flooding, which damaged his shed filled with various tools and equipment. “All my belongings, like lawn mowers, weed whackers, tools, you name it, were affected,” said Oliverio, adding that he witnessed extensive flooding in his yard as a clogged drain exacerbated the situation.
Residents are increasingly worried about the growing intensity of these flooding events. Oliverio indicated that the problem appears to be escalating with every heavy rain. “This happens every year, and it’s getting worse and worse,” he commented, reflecting a sentiment of frustration among homebuyers regarding ongoing flooding without apparent solutions. He expressed feeling neglected, saying, “I mean, nobody cares. It seems like nobody cares as long as it isn’t their house.”
The township officials are aware of the situation, with one Canton Township supervisor revealing that he has been pursuing assistance from state and federal agencies for the creeks in the area for the last seven years without much success. Community leaders visited the mobile home park following the latest round of flooding, urging local residents to report any damage to their homes in hopes of connecting them with available support resources.
In light of the recent flooding, both Hansel and Oliverio have made the decision to move away from Town & Country Court. Hansel expressed a sense of urgency regarding his home’s stability, saying he fears his trailer could be swept away in the next flood. Meanwhile, Oliverio, who was in the process of making improvements to his trailer, has abandoned his plans. “I’m not doing that because I’m selling this place because it’s going to flood again and again and again,” he stated, highlighting the desperation felt by many residents as they confront a cycle of destruction.
The issue of flooding in this area brings to light broader concerns about infrastructure and the overflowing creek’s capacity to handle heavy rain. Residents have pointed to potential contributory factors, such as construction taking place on higher ground, which they believe has increased the flow of water towards their homes.
As the cycle of rainfall continues to disrupt lives in Town & Country Court, residents remain vigilant and anxious about the future of their homes. They hope for concerted action from local authorities to address the ongoing flooding issues, before more people face the uncertainty of losing their residences due to nature’s unpredictability.