Wheeling’s Response to Flood Recovery To Continue Over Weekend
Curbside Debris Pickup Will Begin Monday
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WHEELING - City crews will continue to work over the weekend and into next week on efforts to recover from this week’s significant flooding after relentless rains made the Ohio River swell to just under what is deemed the "major flood" level.
Heavy rains and storms on Tuesday prompted Wheeling City Council to reschedule this past week’s meeting to Friday. Since then the rains had subsided, but all of the creeks, streams and tributaries in the Ohio River Basin made the river rise.
In Wheeling, the river crested Thursday night at 41.49 feet - just shy of the 42-feet "major flood" level, as gauged by the National Weather Service observations courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey.
"We’ve obviously seen some pretty significant flooding," Mayor Glenn Elliott said. "I don’t think we’ve seen this level of water since 2005, so that’s almost 20 years. It’s certainly the worst flooding we’ve seen during the time I’ve been in office. Our hearts go out to the families whose homes have a lot of mud in the basements. I’m thankful that - to my knowledge - no one has been injured or harmed by this."
City crews had already mobilized on Friday to help with the recovery efforts - particularly on Wheeling Island and in other hard-hit neighborhoods, such as portions of South Wheeling. Officials said street sweeping will continue this weekend, and debris pickup will begin Monday by the sanitation department.
"Crews in South Wheeling and Wheeling Island are cleaning already and will continue to do so through the weekend and on Monday or Tuesday, as needed," Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron said. "We’re expecting about a four- to five-day cleanup period for this particular event. We’ve got all hands on deck for all of our city services. Police, fire, operations, water pollution control, water and administrative staff are all working hard to get things back to normal as quickly as we possibly can."
Councilman Ben Seidler, who represents Wheeling Island, applauded the city operations, police and fire departments, city administration and other agencies for their help, including the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department,the Experience Church for box lunches, Pizza Milano of St. Clairsville for pizza donations, county dispatchers and many volunteers.
"As always, our communities come together in a huge kind of way to help each other out - neighbors helping neighbors," Seidler said. "I really appreciate that community support and everybody that’s been a part of this, providing help."
Seidler noted that the House of the Carpenter on Wheeling Island will serve as a center for donation drop-offs of items to assist residents in cleaning out their basements as water continues to recede. By Friday evening, the National Weather Service measured the river at below the 36-feet flood stage, with waters continuing to retreat.
"Folks who are wanting to make donations of cleaning supplies or any types of supplies to help with this clean-up event can drop those off at the front port of the House of the Carpenter on Front Street," Seidler said. "Affected Fulton area residents are welcome to come over to get supplies, as well."
Councilwoman Rosemary Ketchum noted that the most significant impacts of the heavy rains have been the flooding in areas of South Wheeling, as well as parts of Center Wheeling, along with the major mudslide that displaced scores of headstones in Mt. Zion Cemetery near Mozart.
The mayor noted that U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) was in town Thursday, when local officials requested that he seek any possible financial assistance available to help repair the cemetery.
"One thing that has been inspiring and heartwarming is the amount of mutual aid we’ve been seeing," Ketchum said, noting the many instances of neighbors helping neighbors pull up furnaces and hot water tanks out of their basements ahead of the flood. "Knowing that the Friendly City is acting like it is really inspiring."
Ketchum encouraged affected residents to stack debris as neatly as possible along the curb for pickup by city crews in the coming days. She also encouraged those who have been in contact with the flood waters to get their tetanus shots, which are being provided by the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department.
It is helpful to crews if the items are stacked neatly, bagged up and not in cardboard boxes, as boxes will break down if they become wet, officials noted.
Carpeting and flooring should be broken down or cut to a manageable size and bagged if possible. Tires, chemicals, hazardous materials, paint and propane tanks are not acceptable and will not be collected.
"Residents in the affected areas have been incredibly cooperative with our city services thus far, and we really do appreciate that," Herron said.
Another significant impact and quick response came on W.Va. 2 - River Road - between North Wheeling and Warwood, where a massive mudslide covered the main traffic artery along the river. Crews were able to work diligently to get the thoroughfare cleared by Thursday.
"I’d like to thank everyone involved in getting River Road reopened," said Wheeling Vice Mayor Chad Thalman, who represents the Warwood neighborhood.
The mayor also applauded AEP, Frontier and the West Virginia Division of Highways for assistance in getting the road reopened quickly.
"To close down two lanes of traffic like that - it was a significant slip," Elliott said.
In other neighborhoods of Wheeling, many portions of Woodsdale and Edgwood that in the past had seen significant problems with basement flooding and sewage backup in the wake of heavy rains did not see widespread issues as they have in the past.
"We were fortunate this time to not take the brunt of the rain and flooding that we’ve seen throughout the city," Ward 5 Councilman Ty Thorngate said.
Both Thorngate and Councilman Jerry Sklavounakis noted that the $2.1 million Bedillion Lane sewer improvement project through the Woodsdale-Edgwood neighborhoods obviously helped control the storm water, despite the fact that some of the runs through the neighborhood had overflowed.
Sklavounakis added that the city’s Basement Sewer Flooding Prevention Program has also helped residents in these neighborhoods be more protected from flooding. The program - including downspout daylighting help and financial incentives for installation of backflow prevention assemblies - are still available to those who may need it, Sklavounakis said.
The city is helping those with flooded basements with water removal.
"The fire department will be pumping basements," Herron said. "They do have an extensive list and will continue to take calls on that as needed."
Herron added that the recent flood was almost identical to the last significant flood experienced in Wheeling back in 2005 - not only because of the circumstances and the depth of the flood waters, but also of the amount of sediment in the water.
"Flood waters are also measured by the turbidity level - the amount of suspended solids in the water - which ultimately creates mud that is leftover," Herron said, noting that the turbidity level of this week’s flood was measured at 240 parts-per-billion, and the 2005 flood measured 200 ppb. "By comparison, the flood in 2004 had a turbidity level of 6,000 ppb - an incredibly muddy event. So you can imagine the huge difference between then and now."
Residents impacted by flood water can call 304-234-3711 if they need water pumped from their basements.
Tetanus shots will be administered by the health department from 9 a.m. to 3 pm. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for West Virginia residents. No appointment is needed. For more information, call 304-234-3682.
Flood cleanup kits will be available to residents and businesses at the House of the Carpenter, 200 S. Front St., on Wheeling Island. Volunteers wishing to assist in cleanup, make food donations and other necessary items can inquire with the House of the Carpenter at 304-233-4640.