LAWRENCE COUNTY Trees give way in creek landslide

The hillside was saturated by recent rains.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Diane Collins was just sitting down to dinner when the loud cracking noise started.
"I heard a sound, and then I saw a tree coming down," said Collins, who lives in the 1700 block of Pennsylvania Avenue adjacent to the Big Run Creek.
Collins, 57, said storms last week had washed away soil on the hillside across the waterway from her house, leaving tree roots exposed. Those trees finally collapsed about 5:30 p.m. Thursday spilling the large trees and much dirt into Big Run Creek.
Emergency and city workers were out until about 4 a.m. today cutting trees trying to keep the waterway clear for the rain expected from the aftereffects of Hurricane Ivan. Pennsylvania Avenue was closed to traffic.
Mike Rooney, city public works director, said he believes the hillside where the trees once stood was saturated by recent rains and a possible underground spring in the area. He added that neighbors told him the area was once used for mining.
"There were probably 25 trees on this hillside. It [the ground] broke away from the hill, but stayed in place. It was like its own little island, Rooney said. "I was so worried with this storm coming that it would wash away the dirt and the trees would fall into the houses."
Water didn't recede
Collins said she too was concerned. Her family had just finished cleaning up the basement when sewage backed up into it from last week's heavy rains, leaving about 3 feet of sewage and water. Those rains left water flowing up to top of the creek's banks, Collins said.
"When it rains, it can get high, but it always goes down," she said of the creek's water. But this time the water did not recede, she added.
Collins suspects the trees started breaking from the hillside during the last rain because during a power outage last week, her family heard cracking noises.
Rooney said about six or seven public works employees cut the trees along with Tom Finley Tree Service.
City firefighters were there providing lighting and the American Red Cross also was on the scene.
Police Chief Tom Sansone said his officers also were called out to close a portion of Kennedy Square where a water main broke overnight. It was repaired by early morning.
Sharyn Critchlow, director of Lawrence County Emergency Management, said engineers were expected to look at the hillside today. She said the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency also has been alerted to the situation.
cioffi@vindy.com