Latest news with #SaraInnamorato
CBS News
08-06-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Disaster emergency declared in Allegheny County after heavy rains, flash flooding
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato declared a countywide disaster emergency on Saturday, just hours after heavy rains brought flash flooding throughout the Pittsburgh region. Amid the Friday rush hour, heavy rains produced flooding in multiple communities in Allegheny County, including Monroeville and Rankin. Parts of Westmoreland County, including Greensburg and Jeannette, were also impacted by the storms. Allegheny County Emergency Services were activated Friday afternoon and evening, coordinating water rescues and assessing damage as floodwaters receded. Five swiftwater teams from Glassport, Elizabeth, Jefferson, and Blawnox were deployed to White Oak, McKeesport, and North Versailles. Officials conducted three rescues, including two in North Versailles and one from a vehicle on Route 48 in White Oak. Multiple reports of landslides are under investigation. County officials continue to work with the American Red Cross and the County Department of Public Works to support impacted communities. First Alert Weather Days ahead With more heavy rain and storms expected Sunday and Monday, First Alert Weather Days have been issued for Sunday and Monday. A flood watch begins at 7 a.m. Sunday and goes until 10 p.m. Storms are possible through the afternoon and evening, with the biggest threats being flooding and damaging winds. Monday brings another chance for strong-to-severe storms, with most of the Pittsburgh area under a marginal risk for severe weather (1 out of 5). Residents are urged to clear storm drains, downspouts, and ensure creeks and streams are free of obstructions to help reduce the risk of further flooding.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
State of emergency declared for Allegheny County amid flooding caused by severe weather
A state of emergency has been declared for Allegheny County after severe weather caused flooding throughout the area. PHOTOS: Flooding hits local counties as heavy rain, storms move in Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato declared a countywide disaster emergency Saturday as people continue to clean up damage caused by flash floods that happened on Friday. The county said Monroeville, Penn Hills, Pitcairn, White Oak, McKeesport, North Versailles, Wall Borough and parts of Plum were among the communities hit the hardest. RELATED COVERAGE >>> At least 10 people displaced after flash flooding hit North Versailles Five swiftwater teams were sent to White Oak, McKeesport and North Versailles to help assess damage. Three rescues were conducted on Friday. Allegheny County said two of those happened at homes in North Versailles. Another was from a vehicle on Route 48 in White Oak. Officials said multiple landslides are under investigation. The state of emergency allows the Allegheny County Emergency Services Coordinator to 'coordinate all emergency response efforts, take necessary actions to reduce the impact of this disaster, assist in restoring essential services, and implement all emergency response measures deemed necessary.' Allegheny County is also authorized to take any necessary actions to make repairs and ensure safety after the flooding. That includes hiring temporary workers, renting equipment, purchasing supplies and entering into emergency contracts. The American Red Cross and the County Department of Public Works are already working together. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
CBS News
29-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Energy Innovation Center hosts hundreds of local leaders working to combat youth homelessness
Hundreds of people gathered inside the Energy Innovation Center Thursday morning to talk about youth homelessness. Leaders say it's a growing issue locally, and some anticipate it will increase nationally as well. The Allegheny County Executive says over 3,400 young people are experiencing homelessness in the county. It's figures like these that are part of why the homeless children's education fund hosted a policy breakfast. The morning was more than just food. "We have a lot of service providers here – we have a lot of other elected officials," County Executive Sara Innamorato said. It's a call to action, with more than 200 people. It's an important time for people like AJ Jefferson. "Right now, we're experiencing a 17% increase in youth homelessness over the previous year's numbers," said Jefferson, the CEO of the Homeless Children's Education Fund. She says the reasons for that are largely economic. People like Congresswoman Summer Lee say there are deeper issues at play, too. "I think oftentimes, when we think about youth homelessness, we think about one issue at a time and not the snowball effect, not how we got here," Rep. Summer Lee of Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District said. She was one of Thursday morning's speakers. "At least, my message was that we have to make better policy decisions – we have to think about this holistically…" Congresswoman Lee said. Politicians like Mayor Gainey and County Executive Innamorato also wanted to help find solutions. "We have open arms and open ears on how we can embrace the young people, but also listen to them and listen to the providers to make sure that we're delivering the best services possible," Innamorato said. There was Republican representation, too. State Senator Devlin Robinson wanted to listen to concerns he could take to Harrisburg. "Nobody is gonna check anybody's registration whenever they're homeless or in need of help," Robinson, who represents Pennsylvania's 37th district in Harrisburg, said. Jefferson says nearly 47,000 K-12 students in our state have been identified as experiencing homelessness. "With the federal government changing directions and support, we need to figure out in the state, how are we gonna secure the support," Jefferson said. It's support and work that her organization focuses on daily. "We stay in their lives from PreK all the way up to adulthood and career," she said. And now, she's calling on those in this room and beyond to do more to fight the rising problem. "We need to support them – invest your time, invest your resources," Jefferson said. Jefferson says the key to bucking the trend is for the state to allocate funding from its budget towards programs that help combat youth homelessness. She says a lot of that money is drying up from Biden-era COVID relief.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Pittsburgh Marathon will continue with largest turnout ever after storms caused some concerns
Thousands of runners will take to the streets this Sunday for the annual Pittsburgh Marathon. The 26-mile course runs through many city neighborhoods, including the East End, where storms recently disrupted power and scattered debris along the route. On Friday, Channel 11 News spoke with organizers and city and county leaders who reported a collaborative cleanup effort. Marathon organizers held a joint news conference on Friday. 'This year's marathon is bringing visitors from 50 states and 24 countries, giving us a chance to showcase Pittsburgh,' said Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato. Advertisement More than 46,000 runners are expected to participate this year, making it the largest turnout in the event's history, according to P3R, the organization responsible for the Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon. 'I want to thank city employees, the Department of Public Works, the Department of Public Safety, and our utility workers. They did everything possible to make this weekend happen,' said Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey. Earlier this week, many expressed concerns after an unprecedented storm knocked out power, downed electric lines, and uprooted trees across the city just days before the race. Organizers have been monitoring the route daily. 'People are excited; they've invested a lot of time and effort into this journey, so we will make it work for them. We are not concerned about the course at this point,' said Troy Schooley, CEO of P3R. Advertisement On Friday afternoon, Channel 11 News drove along the route and observed that much of the 26-mile stretch had been cleared of debris, with crews actively repairing roads along Fifth Avenue. While power has not been restored in some areas of the city, organizers assured that this would not impact Sunday's race. 'All our generators power this event, so Duquesne Light and other power companies can focus on restoring service,' Schooley explained. While out-of-town visitors may be unaware of the storm's impact come Sunday, local runners are definitely aware. 'We were without power and had a chaotic week just trying to get everything done, but we finally got our power back the other day, which was a relief,' said runner Will Lovever. Lovever placed second in last year's marathon and lives just outside the city. Despite being without power for most of the week, he continued training. He placed first in the Philadelphia Marathon last year and hopes to cross the finish line in Pittsburgh this year, cheered on by his family and friends. 'It would be incredible to win and be the first Pittsburgh man to win the Pittsburgh Marathon,' Lovever said. Crews will begin towing any cars parked along the route starting Saturday night. Advertisement Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Axios
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Axios
Deadly storms leave thousands without power
Severe storms slammed Southwestern Pennsylvania on Tuesday, killing at least three people and leaving hundreds of thousands without power. Zoom in: The storms tore off roofs, ripped down power lines and damaged buildings and homes across the region. Three people were killed — two in Allegheny County and one in Greene County, per WPXI. One man was hit by a falling tree outside of his home, a second man was electrocuted by live wires and the third man died when a tree fell on his car. Winds hit 71.3 mph at Pittsburgh International Airport, the third-highest ever recorded, per the National Weather Service, with gusts reaching 90+ mph in some areas. The storm ripped the roof off of Fiori's Pizzaria in Brookline, damaged a hospitality tent for the U.S. Open at the Oakmont Country Club and destroyed homes in several neighborhoods. At the storm's peak, Allegheny County Emergency Services saw up to 1,000 calls per minute, overwhelming dispatchers and regional phone systems. The latest: Duquesne Light said Wednesday that full power restoration could take five to seven days — with roughly 150,000 customers still in the dark as of Wednesday afternoon. The company said on X that over 250,000 lost power at the storm's peak, calling it "one of the most unprecedented storms we've ever experienced." Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato and Mayor Ed Gainey both declared a disaster emergency on Wednesday, with Innamorato saying the move would "allow the county to bypass normal procedures and immediately deploy all available resources for emergency response and recovery." What they're saying: Gainey at a Wednesday news conference urged Pittsburghers to stay home if possible as cleanup efforts continue. "We are asking the people of the city to bear with us for a little bit," he said. "I know it's an inconvenience. We also acknowledge safety is paramount." Gov. Josh Shapiro visited Fiori's and surveyed storm damage on Milton Street in Regent Square, where uprooted trees crushed homes and cars.
