Fast-rising water from overflowing Glade Run Creek forced a family — including two young children — from their home on Valencia Road in Forward Township about 8 a.m.

Butler County's Water Rescue Team 300 evacuated Samantha Riccitelli, her 4-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son, and Samantha's mother, Charlotte Wright, from the family's house.

A rescue boat picked up the women and children from a side door and carried them to safety as Tony Wright, Samantha's father, looked on with concern.

“The kids were good,” Samantha said. “They weren't crying. They were fine. We've been through this before.”

The extent of the damage to the home and its contents, however, was unknown.

The water by 11 a.m. had begun to recede but was still too deep to allow anyone back in.

“We flood here all the time,” Wright said, “but it's usually just two feet in the driveway. This is a unique event.”