Storms Bring Excess Rain as East Ohio Officials Prepare for River Flood
Gage Vota Trending
While area residents watched and waited Tuesday to see just how severe predicted evening storms might be, emergency officials were planning ahead.
Brookside Fire Chief Allan Ketzell III was preparing the fire station to take on water in the event that the Ohio River floods. He said he had been advised by the Belmont County Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday morning that the river stage would reach 38 feet, which did not cause him too much concern since those forecasts change over time. Later in the day, though, the National Weather Service reported that the river could reach 41 feet at Wheeling; Ketzell said the firehouse basement begins to flood when the river reaches 34.5 feet. At that point, not only does nearby Wheeling Creek back up, but water also backs up through storm drains in the community.
Since the fire department has plans to eventually construct a new building because its current facility is aged and damaged, Ketzell said a lot of things already have been removed from the basement.
"That's the 'beauty' of a river flood, so to speak," Ketzell said. "It comes up slow. We've decided to play it by ear right now, but we're preparing to get everything moved."
Ketzell also said it is important for the public to avoid areas where flooding is occurring. He noted that it takes time for drainage systems to work during extremely heavy rain events and that people who choose to go sight-seeing in areas that are experiencing high water are simply creating additional hazards and making it more difficult for those homeowners and first responders to deal with the situation.
Dave Ivan, county EMA director, said the local community was "holding its own" on Tuesday with a few creeks exceeding their banks following very heavy overnight and morning rain. According to the NWS, between 1.5 and 2.5 inches of rain had fallen across the region by late Tuesday morning with more anticipated with the arrival of evening storms. Ivan noted that a few roads -- Jug Run in Maynard, Barton-Crescent Road (County Road 10) and Miller Road in Lafferty -- were closed due to flooding. In addition, Hell's Kitchen Road was closed as a result of a slip.
Regarding the potential for further severe weather, Ivan said he would "plan for the worst and hope for the best." He expected hail, heavy rain and possible tornadoes late Tuesday. Those conditions are likely to lead to river flooding, he added.
He said people who live in areas such as South Main Street and Water Street in Powhatan need to be alert to conditions and "keep a vigilant eye on this." Like Ketzell, though, he pointed out that a river flood rises slowly, so it won't create an immediate "life or death emergency situation" like a flash flood might.
Ivan also said he does not have any concerns about the river rising so high that the water might infiltrate the Austin Master Services frack waste recycling facility in Martins Ferry. The site contains an excessive amount of hazardous and radioactive waste, according to a complaint filed in Belmont County Common Pleas Court by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, and there are concerns about potential contamination of water, air and soil in the surrounding area.
Although the facility is only about 500 feet from the Ohio River, Ivan said a river flood in 2004 did not breach the site. He said the river reached 42.06 feet at that time, while it is only expected to reach 40-41 feet this week.
No widespread power outages were reportedly locally by Tuesday evening, but other parts of Ohio were affected.
AEP Ohio reminds customers with life-supporting medical equipment to have a backup power source and an alternate plan in the event of a power outage.
According to the National Weather Service, there is an 80% chance of rain in the local area today, with a morning storm likely. Rain may mix with snow overnight and early Thursday.