Flood Warning Issued in Western Pennsylvania and Indiana on Friday Morning

Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania United States of America
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Allegheny, southern Armstrong, Beaver, southern Butler, Fayette and west central Indiana on Friday morning.
Western Pennsylvania and Indiana are currently experiencing flooding.
Flood Warning Issued in Western Pennsylvania and Indiana on Friday Morning

The article discusses the current flooding situation in western Pennsylvania. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Allegheny, southern Armstrong, Beaver, southern Butler, Fayette and west central Indiana on Friday morning.



Confidence

90%

No Doubts Found At Time Of Publication

Sources

79%

  • Unique Points
    • , WE’VE ONLY HAD ONE, JUST ONE COMPLETELY DRY DAY AND CERTAINLY ANY ADDITIONAL RAIN IS UNWELCOME AT THIS POINT, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE HEAVY RAINS AND THE FLOODING ISSUES THAT FOLLOWED LAST EVENING AND LAST NIGHT.
    • RIGHT NOW, WE’RE SEEING OUR NEXT ROUND OF GENERALLY LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS MOVING ACROSS THE AREA.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive in its use of language to create a sense of urgency and danger. The author uses phrases such as 'heavy rains' and 'flooding issues that followed last evening and last night', which suggest imminent danger when the actual rainfall amounts are described as generally light, not prolonged or heavy.
    • The article states:
  • Fallacies (70%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that the heavy rain and flooding issues from last evening and last night are unwelcome. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the light rain showers as 'not going to be a heavier, more intense, prolonged rainfall'. Additionally, there is an example of a dichotomous depiction by stating that the next round of general light rain showers will not create any additional flooding issues. The article also contains informal fallacies such as using contractions and colloquial language.
    • The heavy rains and flooding issues from last evening and last night are unwelcome
    • Not going to be a heavier, more intense, prolonged rainfall
    • Next round of general light rain showers will not create any additional flooding issues
  • Bias (85%)
    The article contains a statement that implies the rain is unwelcome due to previous flooding issues. This could be seen as an example of religious bias as it suggests that nature should not cause harm or inconvenience.
    • > I DON'T ANTICIPATE AGGRAVATE FLOODING FROM THIS ROUND OF SHOWERS.
      • > RIGHT NOW, WE’RE SEEING OUR NEXT ROUND OF GENERALLY LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS MOVING ACROSS THE AREA. AGAIN, THE KEY WORD HERE IS LIGHT. IT’S NOT GOING TO BE A HEAVIER, MORE INTENSE, PROLONGED RAINFALL.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      76%

      • Unique Points
        • The James Sharp Landing flooded on Friday, April 12, 2024.
        • A man cover was blown off the stormwater system here on Martha Street, near its intersection with Dewey Street in Etna. The intersection of Dewey and Martha streets in Etna was closed.
      • Accuracy
        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
      • Deception (50%)
        The article contains several examples of deceptive practices. The author uses sensationalism by describing the flooding as a 'landslide' and 'torrential downpour', which is not accurate. They also use selective reporting to only mention Oakdale when there are other areas affected by flooding in Allegheny County.
        • The James Sharp Landing flooded on Friday, April 12, 2024.
      • Fallacies (85%)
        The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the flooding as a disaster and using phrases such as 'flooded with several feet of water' to exaggerate the severity of the situation. Additionally, there are appeals to authority in quotes from experts such as Eric Smith from the United States Geological Survey. However, these statements do not necessarily constitute fallacies on their own.
        • The James Sharp Landing flooded on Friday, April 12, 2024.
      • Bias (85%)
        The article contains multiple examples of bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes the people affected by the flooding in Oakdale and portrays them as helpless victims. For example, they describe 'crews from as far away as Blawnox' responding to flooding instead of using local resources or volunteers who may have been more effective at providing aid. Additionally, the article uses sensationalist language such as 'flooded with several feet of water', which exaggerates the severity of the situation and creates a sense of fear for readers.
        • The article uses sensationalist language such as 'flooded with several feet of water', which exaggerates the severity of the situation and creates a sense of fear for readers.
          • The author describes Oakdale flooding in a way that dehumanizes people affected by it. For example, they describe 'crews from as far away as Blawnox' responding to flooding instead of using local resources or volunteers who may have been more effective at providing aid.
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
            The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a conflict of interest on the topics of flooding in Oakdale and Blawnox as they are located within Allegheny County. The article mentions that crews from as far away as Blawnox have responded to flooding in Oakdale, indicating that there may be financial ties between the two towns and their response efforts.
            • .
              • Blawnox
                • Oakdale
                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication

                77%

                • Unique Points
                  • The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh issued a flood warning for Allegheny, southern Armstrong, Beaver, southern Butler, Fayette, Greene and west central Indiana on Friday morning.
                  • Saturated soil could allow trees to fall more easily. Some homes on North Scenic Drive in South Buffalo Township faced rising waters with residents evacuated from the street Thursday night.
                • Accuracy
                  • Record-breaking rainfall has left much of the region under a flood warning.
                • Deception (50%)
                  The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title mentions 'flooding' but does not specify that it is caused by rain. The author then goes on to say that record-breaking rainfall has led to flooding without providing any context or explanation for why this would be a problem. Secondly, the article reports on several incidents of flooding and damage caused by heavy rains in different areas but does not provide any information about how these events are related or connected. This creates a false sense of urgency and importance around the issue while also misleading readers into thinking that there is some kind of coordinated effort to address the problem when, in reality, each incident is being dealt with independently. Finally, the article includes several instances where it reports on damage caused by flooding without providing any context or explanation for why this would be a problem. For example, it mentions that water has risen dangerously close to Freeport Water Treatment Plant but does not explain how this could affect public health or safety.
                  • The author reports on several incidents of flooding and damage caused by heavy rains in different areas without providing any information about how these events are related or connected.
                  • The title of the article mentions 'flooding' without specifying that it is caused by rain.
                • Fallacies (80%)
                  The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the flooding as a 'record-breaking rain' and stating that it is expected to rise up to 25 feet above normal levels by Friday night. This creates an emotional response in readers rather than providing factual information about the floods.
                  • The author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the flooding as a 'record-breaking rain'
                  • The author states that it is expected to rise up to 25 feet above normal levels by Friday night.
                • Bias (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                  The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of flooding in Western Pennsylvania as they are reporting for the National Weather Service (NWS) which is responsible for monitoring and forecasting weather conditions including floods. The article reports record rainfall and rising river levels in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, PA, USA.
                  • <25 feet above normal levels by Friday night>
                    • The author reports on heavy rains that have caused flooding in Western Pennsylvania
                      • The National Weather Service is responsible for monitoring and forecasting weather conditions including floods. The article reports record rainfall and rising river levels in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, PA, USA.

                      63%

                      • Unique Points
                        • Rescue crews rushed to the aid of a woman trapped in a car sinking in rising waters on Pennsylvania Route 51 in Pittsburgh.
                        • A flash flood emergency, the National Weather Service's highest flood alert category, was issued for parts of Pittsburgh where up to 4 inches of rain had fallen just before 9:30pm Thursday.
                        • On Friday, the NWS warned of a level 2 out of four on their storm risk scale, for a 'slight' risk of excessive rainfall in northern New England with Maine at particular threat due to the combination of rainfall and recent snowmelt.
                        • Flood watches were in effect in northern New Hampshire and central Maine due to the threat of flash and river flooding.
                        • Climate change is causing extreme precipitation events to be more intense and frequent. A warmer atmosphere can hold more water vapor, which provides added moisture and energy for storm systems to wring out as heavy rainfall.
                        • Widespread shower and thunderstorm activity was expected to continue Friday morning across the lower Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast as a low pressure area intensifies and moves from the Great Lakes into Canada. Severe thunderstorms with scattered damaging winds and isolated severe hail are possible.
                        • The severe threat is expected to diminish by afternoon.
                      • Accuracy
                        • Rescue crews rushed to the aid of a woman trapped in a car sinking in rising waters on Pennsylvania Route 51 in Pittsburgh. Officials said she was not injured.
                        • On Wednesday, thunderstorms brought so much rain to New Orleans that the day ranked as the third-wettest April day on record there. The storm was blamed for at least two deaths.
                        • By Thursday night, the storm had shattered daily rainfall records in Pittsburgh and prompted water rescues and road closures across Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
                      • Deception (30%)
                        The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title mentions Pittsburgh streets being flooded but does not mention that it was caused by a severe storm system threatening parts of the eastern U.S.
                        • Rescue crews rush to the aid of a woman who was trapped in a car sinking in rising waters on Pennsylvania Route 51 in Pittsburgh, per a Thursday night Pittsburgh Public Safety post.
                      • Fallacies (70%)
                        The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the National Weather Service's highest flood alert category and their storm risk scale. They also use inflammatory rhetoric when describing the severe weather conditions as a 'flash flood emergency', which can be seen as exaggerating the situation. Additionally, there is a dichotomous depiction of climate change being both caused by human activity and not causing any harm to society in this article.
                        • The National Weather Service's highest flood alert category was issued for parts of Pittsburgh
                        • Rescue crews rushed to the aid of a woman trapped in a car sinking in rising waters on Pennsylvania Route 51
                        • Climate change is causing extreme precipitation events to be more intense and frequent
                      • Bias (85%)
                        The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses the phrase 'religious extremists' to describe white supremacists online celebrating a reference to racism in an article about flooding in Pittsburgh. This is an example of using language that depicts one side as extreme or unreasonable, which is a form of religious bias. Additionally, the article mentions that verified accounts on X and major far-right influencers on platforms like Telegram were celebrating the reference to racism in an article about flooding in Pittsburgh. This suggests that there may be monetary ties between these individuals or organizations and white supremacists online, which is a form of monetary bias.
                        • Rescue crews rush to the aid of a woman who was trapped in a car sinking in rising waters on Pennsylvania Route 51 in Pittsburgh
                          • The heavy rains were triggered by the same storm system that unleashed tornadoes and heavy rains across much of the South and Southeast this week, with flood emergencies declared in three other locations.
                            • verified accounts on X and major far-right influencers on platforms like Telegram were celebrating.
                            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                              None Found At Time Of Publication
                            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                              Rebecca Falconer and Andrew Freedman have a conflict of interest on the topic of Pittsburgh Public Safety as they are reporting for Axios which is owned by Comcast. Comcast has business interests in the city of Pittsburgh through its ownership of several cable TV providers including Xfinity.
                              • Rebecca Falconer and Andrew Freedman report for Axios, a company that is owned by Comcast.

                              64%

                              • Unique Points
                                • , Pine Creek has reached 14 feet.
                                • The order applies to residents living in flood zones or areas prone to flooding.
                                • Any resident needing assistance should call 911.
                              • Accuracy
                                No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                              • Deception (50%)
                                The article contains deceptive practices such as selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author only reports on the flooding in Etna without mentioning any other areas affected by the storms. This is an example of selective reporting which can mislead readers into thinking that this is the only area experiencing severe weather conditions when it may not be true.
                                • The article states 'Etna Borough has issued an evacuation notice after severe flooding on Thursday evening.' However, there are no details about what caused the flooding or how long it lasted. This is an example of selective reporting as the author only reports on the effects of the flood without providing any context.
                                • The article states 'If you do not evacuate go to the highest floor of your home as emergency personnel may not be able to reach you to evacuate you.' However, this statement is misleading and can create fear in readers. It's important for readers to understand that emergency personnel will always prioritize safety and rescue efforts.
                                • The article states 'People without a place to go can go to Emmanuel Lutheran Church on Grant and Highland avenues.' However, there are no details about what resources or assistance will be provided at this location. This is an example of emotional manipulation as it creates a sense of urgency for people who may not have anywhere else to turn.
                              • Fallacies (85%)
                                The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it states that the borough encourages residents to evacuate immediately and take their pets with them. This statement implies that the borough has some sort of authoritative power over its residents' actions, which is not necessarily true.
                                • > Etna Borough has issued an evacuation notice after severe flooding on Thursday evening. <
                                • The order applies to residents living in flood zones or areas prone to flooding.
                              • Bias (100%)
                                None Found At Time Of Publication
                              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                                None Found At Time Of Publication
                              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                                None Found At Time Of Publication