CANTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Canton Township declared a state of emergency Sunday after another round of heavy rain caused significant flooding across Washington County, forcing evacuations, stranding vehicles and leaving roads under several feet of water.

The declaration marks a significant escalation from the flooding threat forecast earlier in the weekend. Canton Township Emergency Management said first responders, road crews, public works employees and other agencies were working across the community as water affected areas that do not normally flood.

Township officials reported downed trees, completely flooded roads, washed-out driveways and abandoned vehicles. People had to be pulled from vehicles, and some residents were evacuated as water rose.

Washington Estates, a mobile home community in Canton Township, was particularly hard hit. The Observer-Reporter reported that some residents were evacuated Sunday morning before being allowed to return by about 2 p.m. as floodwater receded.

No casualties had been reported in Washington County as of Sunday evening, according to county Director of Public Safety Gerald Coleman.

Flooding spread across Washington County

The problems extended well beyond Canton Township. Washington County officials said Sunday afternoon that most of the county was experiencing some level of flooding and asked residents, businesses and municipalities to document storm damage.

Washington County Emergency Services issued the damage-report request shortly before 5 p.m. Officials said the information would help determine the scope of the flooding and what resources or assistance communities may need.

Heavy flooding was reported around the City of Washington, Canton Township, Claysville and North Franklin Township. Henderson Avenue and North Henderson Avenue remained closed during portions of Sunday because several feet of water covered the roadway.

Washington & Jefferson College's Cameron Stadium was inundated again, with floodwater covering the field and adjacent Park Avenue. Roads, yards and parking lots elsewhere in the county were also flooded.

Local radio station WJPA reported additional problems including flooding along Country Club Road, a closure on Jefferson Avenue at Wylie Avenue and a retaining wall collapse on Arch Street in Canonsburg. Emergency responders also rescued people from vehicles caught in floodwater.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for central Washington County Sunday morning after emergency management officials reported multiple instances of flooding.

Between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain had fallen in the warned area by late morning, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters warned that flooding was occurring along small creeks and streams, streets, highways, underpasses and other low-lying or poorly drained areas.

The warning included Washington, Canonsburg, Avella, Wolfdale, McGovern, Bentleyville, East Washington, Houston, Claysville, Eighty Four and several other communities.

Saturated ground worsened Sunday's flooding

Canton Township Emergency Management said the area was already saturated following recent rainfall, leaving less capacity for Sunday's water to soak into the ground.

Washington County has experienced repeated flooding this month. Emergency officials were still assessing damage from an earlier September storm when Sunday's rainfall arrived, following additional intense storms in August.

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency personnel were already scheduled to visit Washington County Monday to assist with damage assessments from the previous flooding. Coleman told the Observer-Reporter that Sunday's new damage would now also be part of that assessment.

The repeated storms have also disrupted community events. Flooding and unsafe conditions led organizers to remove the Ebenezer and Henry covered bridges at Mingo Creek County Park from this weekend's Covered Bridge Festival before Sunday's rain arrived.

More rain expected overnight and Monday

The immediate concern is that Sunday's flooding occurred before the wet weather pattern has ended.

The National Weather Service Pittsburgh office maintained a flood watch for much of southwestern Pennsylvania through noon Monday. The watch includes Washington, Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, Westmoreland and Fayette counties, along with portions of eastern Ohio and northern West Virginia.

The weather service said one to two inches of rain was expected across parts of the region during the broader event, with isolated totals around three inches possible. A band of heavier rainfall had already produced basin-average totals of one to two inches through parts of Washington and Westmoreland counties by Sunday morning.

Forecasters expect another period of steady rain overnight into Monday. The Pittsburgh-area forecast calls for showers and thunderstorms Monday with additional rainfall possible, and rain chances continue into Tuesday.

Because soils and drainage systems in Washington County have already handled repeated rounds of heavy rainfall, additional precipitation could create new flooding even in areas where water receded Sunday afternoon.

Canton Township urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel during the emergency and advised people near streams, flood-prone locations and other water sources to be prepared to leave if conditions deteriorate.

Officials also encouraged residents to prepare emergency supplies and a go bag. Anyone who evacuates was advised to take pets along rather than leaving them behind.

Damage assessment now underway

Washington County Emergency Management is asking property owners to report damage from Sunday's storm through the county's reporting system. Officials stressed that the new reporting process is separate from damage reports associated with the Sept. 12 flooding.

Municipal governments are also being asked to report storm impacts and any emergency or disaster declarations to the county.

The declaration in Canton Township does not mean all of Washington County is under a local state of emergency. It gives township officials additional authority to coordinate resources and respond to the flooding within Canton Township while county and state agencies continue assessing the broader damage.

The extent of property damage had not been fully calculated Sunday evening, and officials had not announced an estimate of how many homes, businesses or vehicles were damaged.

The next significant period will be overnight Sunday into Monday morning. With additional rain forecast over already saturated ground, emergency officials are monitoring whether new flooding develops before crews can fully assess and begin recovering from Sunday's damage.