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A series of heavy thunderstorms that raked the area early today shut down roads, delayed school buses and knocked out power in part of Ohio County and areas north and west of Wheeling.
One of the heaviest hit areas in Wheeling was National Road and Bethany Pike in the Woodsdale area, where Long Run overran its banks behind Hardee’s restaurant and spilled over into the restaurant and across the street into the CVS parking lot. The deluge of creek water combined with overflowing storm drains produced several feet of water on National Road.
Wheeling police shut down the road as several motorists attempted to drive through the standing water. Some drivers experienced water flowing out of the doors of their vehicles as they drove through the water.
Garrett Daniel, owner of Spic and Span Cleaners on National Road in Woodsdale, said he is accustomed to high water issues.
“This is one of the lowest spots in Woodsdale,” he said. “I received a call at 2 a.m., and we were able to sandbag the doors to keep the water out with the exception of a little seepage on our floor. No clothes or equipment were damaged.”
Daniel said at one point, water rose to about three feet in front of his store.
Meanwhile, Long Run running along Bethany Pike came to within inches of overflowing onto the road after twigs and other debris clogged a storm water culvert near the entrance of the C3 Church. Mud and water covered one lane of Bethany Pike across from Nicky’s Garden Center.
A resident of Elm Street, between Edgwood Street and Poplar Avenue, stood in her driveway and watched water flow down her street.
“I really did not realize what was happening until I came outside,” she said. “I couldn’t believe how quickly the water came and how high it got. It also made a lot of noise as it rushed by.
Water also flooded the parking lot of WesBanco Bank and left a thick layer of mud for workers to clean up.
North Fork Road in the Short Creek area of Ohio County was covered with water and debris at about 6:30 a.m., The water receded within 30 minutes of the storm and crews from the Short Creek Landfill cleared the debris from the bridge and road in that area.
Power outages were scattered throughout Ohio County. American Electric Power officials said most power problems would be restored before noon if the weather cooperates. AEP reported 275 customers in Jefferson County were without power this morning.
School buses were forced to wait out the rising water in areas of Dixon’s Run Road and Peters Run Road in Ohio County. Power lines were reported down on Dixon’s Run.
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the entire region until 12:15 p.m. today. Additional thunderstorms were predicted for today and this evening, but not in the intensity experienced Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. As of this morning, the Cadiz area had received four inches of rain in a six-hour span.
Lou Vargo, Wheeling-Ohio County Emergency Management Agency director, said he believed the storm drains were the cause of the National Road flooding in Wheeling. But witnesses at the scene said it appeared water was flowing from behind Hardee’s, where Long Run is situated.
Vargo noted Dixon Run Road would remain closed until a downed powerline was repaired. Flooding also occurred on North Fork Road near the landfill, but the water receded quickly and a crew from the landfill cleared the debris from the road. Battle Run Road also was flooded in areas.
In Marshall County, emergency management agency Director Tom Hart said no flooding had occurred in his county this morning.
“Out in the Sand Hill and Dallas areas we had a few trees down and scattered power outages in the same area,” Hart said. “We’re supposed to have storms all day. … A lot of times you get so much rain, storm drains can’t handle that amount of rain.”
Hart said he would continue to monitor for any potential flood watches in his county.
Mount de Chantal Road residents reported water gushing up out of the sewers in their basements at the height of the rainstorm this morning. One resident said raw sewage mixed with rain water, leaving a thick layer of sludge and debris as the water receded.
After the water receded, Wheeling Health Department officials were out this morning monitoring the areas along National Road for possible sewage contamination at businesses located there.
More than three inches of rain fell during the night and early morning, resulting in flooding concerns, mainly in the southern part of Jefferson County. The Ohio Department of Transportation closed Ohio 7 from Rush Run to Georges Run because of high water in the construction zones. Crews were attempting to unclog drains in the work area.
Adena was reporting roads were covered with flood water, and the volunteer fire department building had some water inside. Ohio 151 in the New Alexandria area was closed for a period because of high water. Law enforcement officers had to help several stranded motorists in the flood waters.
Ohio 152 out of Smithfield and Ohio 150 out of Dillonvale also were closed because of high water.
There were some concerns about a dam on a newly constructed pond off Ohio 151 when water started to come over the dam, but the water receded. John Parker, county emergency management agency director, cautioned residents in the southern part of the county to drive with caution because of debris on the roads.
A bridge washed out on County Road 1. The bridge was reported to be in the creek, and trees and other debris were causing the water to back up in the Glen Robbins area.
Heather Ziegler, Shelley Hanson, Fred Connors and Mark Law contributed to this story.