10-05-2025
Heavy rains worry residents familiar with flooding
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— As rain continued to hammer NEPA, flooding has become a major concern, especially for those living in low lying areas.
One area was hit particularly hard a couple of years ago, and residents there say this weather has them nervous.
Residents of Scranton's Keyser Valley region are no strangers to flooding.
Three days of rain having an effect on local borough
In 2023, heavy rain led to flash flooding and heavy property damage. Now, they're worried it could happen again.
Scranton's Keyser Valley section is still recovering from severe flash flooding that happened almost two years ago.
In September of 2023, heavy rains and debris from the mountain caused the Keyser Creek to overflow and make its way into people's homes.
'It started pouring down rain, and about 40 minutes later my mom called and said 'you need to get home, the basement is, everything's floating in there,' explained Scranton resident Sara Baldinucci.
Sara Baldinucci was at a golf tournament when it all began. She says what started as a beautiful sunny day, quickly turned to chaos.
'It just hit. It was downpours, like buckets of water. It was pretty crazy how fast and furious it happened,' recalled Baldinucci.
She tells 28/22 News she got home and found the basement flooded, everything inside it, lost.
Pools of water and debris filled her yard, cars submerged and people being rescued by boat a block away.
Just down the street, Lenny Srebro says his home didn't sustain any damage, but he adds a lack of flood mitigation by the city led him to take matters into his own hands.
'Higher curbs all around the property. I put down railroad ties and marble blocks,' stated Srebo.
He says this was all done to divert water away from his home, garage, and the priceless classic cars he keeps inside.
Some neighbors weren't as fortunate. Many homes still sit vacant and condemned from the flooding they sustained.
And while the rain isn't as severe as it was that September, both neighbors say they worry anytime the weather takes a turn for the worse.
'I'm constantly checking the basement, like, when it starts to rain we are down there all the time,' said Baldinucci.
'Every time it rains, I'm telling you, people get scared,' added Srebo.
Keyser Creek was flowing rapidly.
With more rain expected in the coming week, residents living in this area should be mindful of changing conditions and remain aware of their surroundings.
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