Glassport Residents Advised To Evacuate As Road Crumbles Down Hillside

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GLASSPORT (KDKA) -- Orange cones and caution tape line Oregon street in Glassport as future rainfall threatens a large landslide in the area.

According to town officials, the road is crumbling down the steep hillside, threatening dozens of homes below.

"I was at work and I got a call from my wife saying the police are there pounding on the door with a piece of paper telling us to get out," Kenneth Rapp said.

Rapp read KDKA-TV News the letter he received from the town that said officials are very concerned about the street and the potential landslide that could result. The officials recommended evacuation for all of the homes on Iowa Street.

"[We are now] trying to get everything out of here just before it comes down," Rapp said. "We don't know if we should start moving it now or wait. You just don't know."

His neighbor David Palyo isn't waiting. He was filling his car with valuables and antiques Saturday night.

"I bought a storage unit just so I could put my stuff someplace really close here to get it out of my house," Palyo said.

Palyo said he will remain in his house, but wants to make sure all of his valuables are somewhere safe. Other neighbors on Iowa Street, directly below Oregon Street, have packed up and left their homes to stay with family.

Mayor Keith DiMarco told KDKA-TV News that the situation looks significantly worse than it did last week. With the events at Route 30 in the back of his mind, he said he wants to be extremely proactive.

"Our engineer said out of the ones he's been around, this one has the potential for a massive landslide," Mayor DiMarco said.

The mayor and police officers knocked on doors early Saturday morning to warn residents and pass out flyers that recommended the evacuations.

Mayor DiMarco said a geo-tech company will be out on Monday to begin drilling to try to figure out the root of the problem.