Flood Warning System
During a rain event, the Etna Police Department and the Emergency Management Committee monitors the levels of the creeks (Pine Creek and West Little Pine Creek) storm runoff areas (areas listed above) and the Allegheny River on a regular basis for high flow. When and if predetermined benchmarks have been reached, the Volunteer Fire Department and the Emergency Dispatch Center will be notified. The Fire Department will proceed to the areas where potential flooding may occur, and announce through their loud speaker system, THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF FLOODING EXISTS. At that point, residents may choose to evacuate the area or begin preparation for flooding. This may include moving items from the basement, plugging sewer drains or sand bagging. If it is determined by the Emergency Management Coordinator and the Emergency Management Committee that flooding is a REAL possibility, the Emergency Siren will be activated. When you hear the siren, immediately tune your radio to 1670 AM, the Borough’s emergency alert radio station. The Borough will also activate SwiftReach, the Borough’s reverse 911 phone calling system. Repeated calls will be made to all potentially threatened areas with specific instructions depending upon the circumstances, Both the radio station and the calling system will provide instructions that may include warnings that flooding is a possibility and that you may choose to take steps in anticipation of possible flooding as described the above article. If the Emergency Management Coordinator and/or the Emergency Management Committee determines that flooding is likely, instructions for evacuation will be provided. IT IS IMPERITIVE THAT SHOULD AN EVACUATION FOR YOUR AREA BE ORDERED, YOU SHOULD EVACUATE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY. Should you choose to not evacuate, you may be forced to ride out the duration of the flooding, as it may be impossible or life threatening to emergency personnel to try and reach you.
Information on flood proofing, retrofitting and water proofing is available in the lobby of the Municipal Building as well as the Shaler North Hills Library - Etna Flood Information Section.
The National Flood Insurance Rate Map is prominently displayed in the lobby of the Municipal Building for viewing by any interested party. Questions can be directed either to the Borough Manager, Building Inspector or Engineer. You may call 412-781-0569 for additional information.
Flooding can occur through several routes in our community - either by the overflowing of the creek or river banks, the overflowing of storm water runoffs or by sewer system overflow and backup. Dumping and littering adds to potential problems. Because we are a combined sewer system (sanitary and storm water are combined in the same piping system), littering on the street can be washed into the storm catch basins during a rain event. This can clog up the sewer system and take up vital space for storm and sanitary flow. Please do not litter.
During a rain event, the Etna Police Department and the Emergency Management Committee monitors the levels of the creeks (Pine Creek and West Little Pine Creek) storm runoff areas (areas listed above) and the Allegheny River on a regular basis for high flow. When and if preset benchmarks have been reached, the Volunteer Fire Department and the Emergency Dispatch Center will be notified. If it is determined by the Emergency Management Coordinator and the Emergency Management Committee that flooding is a REAL possibility, the Emergency Siren will be activated. When you hear the siren, immediately tune your radio to 1670 AM, the Borough’s emergency alert radio station. The Borough will also activate SwiftReach, the Borough’s reverse 911 phone calling system. Repeated calls will be made to all potentially threatened areas with specific instructions depending upon the circumstances, Both the radio station and the calling system will provide instructions that may include warnings that flooding is a possibility and that you may choose to take steps in anticipation of possible flooding as described the above article. If the Emergency Management Coordinator and/or the Emergency Management Committee determines that flooding is likely, instructions for evacuation will be provided. IT IS IMPERITIVE THAT SHOULD AN EVACUATION FOR YOUR AREA BE ORDERED, YOU SHOULD EVACUATE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY. Should you choose to not evacuate, you may be forced to ride out the duration of the flooding, as it may be impossible or life threatening to emergency personnel to try and reach you.
