Heavy storms pounded the Mon Valley early Monday morning, with torrential rains causing flood damage throughout the area, but mostly in Charleroi and Fallowfield.

According to Charleroi fire Chief Bob Whiten Jr., the Twilight basin off Lincoln Avenue Extension was hardest hit.

"We were out there for three hours last night," Whiten said. "It's the worst I've seen it in a long time."

Maple Creek Distributing was hit hard, but business was not affected.

"It's been a very long day," said Elaine McGaughey, who owns the business with her husband, Joe. "When I walked outside at 11 p.m. last night, the water was coming over the bridge."

The water did not reach levels high enough to affect merchandise.

The business' garage, located in the rear of the building, was filled with mud and debris, and a truck had to be hauled away after being swallowed by the water.

According to McGaughey, 1.7 inches of rain fell from midnight to 1:30 a.m.

Washington County 911 dispatchers reported 4 feet of water in the distributor's garage.

"There were entire trees and tires all over the place," McGaughey said. "A Dumpster from Nix Optical rolled right over our bridge.

"There were some guys looking for it, but it's probably in the river with as fast as that water was moving."

Luckily, losses were held to a minimum, because there is no flood insurance on the business.

"We couldn't get insurance because someone told us that we weren't located in the flood zone," McGaughey said. "The new maps will show us being in one now. Someone from (Washington) County told us that today."

Community members pitched in to help the McGaugheys clean up the mess.

The Charleroi Fire Department arrived with submersible pumps, as did Lee Supply Co., the Mid-Mon Valley Water Authority and the Authority of the Borough of Charleroi.

Republican Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey-Vaughan is gathering a group of people to assist in cleanup efforts.

"The community has been great," McGaughey said. "We're very thankful for all their help."

The American Red Cross was on scene to provide assistance to residents along Young Lane. It also contributed mops and buckets to Maple Creek Distributing.

Farther down Lincoln Avenue Extension and along Old Route 71, firefighters in Fallowfield Township were busy.

The parking lot of the Maples Restaurant was destroyed by floodwaters, but there was no damage to the building. Crews were working to smooth and repair the lot.

"It was a busy night," Fallowfield Fire Department Third Capt. Brandon Locy said. "All the rain came at once. There was way too much overflow."