BRIEF: Economy residents evacuated amid shifting land

Feb. 20--ECONOMY -- Three homes in the borough were evacuated Friday evening after about a half an acre of ground began to shift as a result of recent rainfall, officials said.

Eric Brewer, coordinator of Beaver County Emergency Management, said the Economy Fire Department was called at about 7 p.m. Friday to McGuire Road for landslide-like movement that caused dirt and ground to shift into a home.

The fire department recommended three homes be evacuated, Brewer said. As of Tuesday morning, all seven of the residents remained displaced from their homes.

The land has continued to shift over the past few days, Brewer said. The weight of the landslide could damage the foundations of the houses.

Brewer said the issue is now between the homeowners and insurance companies to determine how to proceed. The issue may require work from excavation companies to remove the moving land, he said.

Officials have continued to visit the area to assess the damage.

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