“We just got all of this rain, all at once, and the creeks and river just couldn’t take it,” said Gregory Hassen Sr., assistant fire chief at Hope Fire Company in Northern Cambria.

Hassen said the company had about 45 calls for flooding on Friday and that toilets and sinks were backing up into resident’s homes. Other residents became stuck when floodwaters became too high for them to evacuate.

The fire company, assisted by the American Red Cross, then opened its doors to provide shelter for those in need, Hassen said.

“We had residents that were stuck,” Hassen said. “There was also a vehicle stuck in water that had to be rescued and we made sure the operator was out of the vehicle.”

Three teens survey the flood damage to the ballfields at the Northern Cambria Youth Recreation South Complex on Friday morning. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

In addition, four people and two dogs were evacuated from a home that initial reports indicated had a crumbling foundation from the flooding. Once the water receded, though, it was determined the home was safe, Hassen said.

“He was able to go back in his house,” Hassen said. “Everybody’s home now.”

Friday afternoon, with the water receding and no injuries reported, the fire company was focused on cleaning up.

Hassen said Hope Fire was being assisted by the Cambria County Water Rescue Team, consisting of Cambria EMA, Portage, Nanty Glo and East Taylor Township fire departments, and Richland Fire Departments loaning extra sump pumps.

A spokesperson with Cambria County 911 said one road would remain closed for an extended period as road crews waited on materials for repairs.

A member of Hope Volunteer Fire Company walks through a flooded Maple Avenue in Northern Cambria on Friday morning. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

“This road closure is in Elder Township, which is close by to where all this flooding was,” the spokesperson said. “It washed out part of the roadway and will be closed for about 10 days because they will be awaiting materials to be delivered to them.”

The road will be closed to all traffic from Third Avenue at Route 36 to Haida Avenue in Hastings, Elder Township.

Other roads have since reopened, “as they were basically waiting for the waters to recede,” the spokesperson said.

In most of Cambria County, there were “lots of flooded basements and roadways,” she said.

Tom Davis, Patton Fire Department chief, said his crew responded to about 12 flooded basements and other nonemergency calls.

“As far as Patton Borough goes, we just had some local, flooded basements in our town,” Davis said.

While Blair, Bedford and Huntingdon counties saw no major damage, local emergency service directors were still prepared.

Huntingdon County EMS Director Katie Unger said they only received calls for a few flooded basements, while her Bedford County counterpart Alex Delia said they “had a few road closings with wires down and flooding.”

“In our county, we did have plans in place with the Red Cross and Swift Water Rescue in case they were needed,” Delia said.

Bedford’s townships were also notified to be on alert, Delia said, but ultimately were in the clear.

“We’re not really expecting anything (over the weekend), but that doesn’t mean we aren’t monitoring things,” Delia said.

Blair County EMS Director Mark Taylor said they were also prepared, with water rescue teams on standby.

“We fared pretty well,” Taylor said. “It was a gradual rain and we had some minor road closures, some basement floodings, but we came away without any major damage.”

Now that Debby has passed, Taylor doesn’t think any waterways in the area will crest above the flood stage.

Altoona and surrounding areas received about 3.21 inches of rain over a 48- to 54-hour period, according to Accuweather Forecasting Manager Kerry Schwindenhammer.

“Much of the heaviest rain has come to an end right now, lifted off to the north into New York state,” Schwindenhammer said.

The weather will be much nicer over the weekend, Schwindenhammer said, with the humidity being “noticeably less of an issue” than over previous days. Dew points are predicted to “drop off pretty noticeably, and it’s going to feel pretty nice” to start the weekend with a breeze and mix of sun and clouds.

Temperatures should be in the mid-70s on Sunday with “pretty nice weather to start the work week as well,” Schwindenhammer said.

“Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday in the 70s, and looking pretty good here,” Schwindenhammer said. “So finally getting some nice weather in the wake of Debby.”

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is at 814-946-7458.