Landslide risk forces evacuations of several Squirrel Hill homes

The threat of landslides forced the evacuation of two homes in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood Thursday night, officials said.

Police and fire crews responded about 7 p.m. to Rosemont Lane, said Public Safety spokeswoman Alicia George. She said the land shifted behind two of the homes.

City engineers were called to assess the scene, and the two homes were evacuated as a precaution, she said.

It is unclear what preventative measures can be used, how long they will take, or when the families will be able to return to their homes.

There have been hundreds of landslides over the last year triggered by record-setting rain in 2018. Allegheny County estimated slides caused $21.7 million in damage in 2018.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency denied a request to declare the landslides a disaster, but this week made $10 million in hazard-mitigation grants available. Municipalities across the region will compete for a cut of the money, which won’t be available for at least 18 months.

Jacob Tierney is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jacob at 724-836-6646, jtierney@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Soolseem.