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Extensive Flood Cleanup Expected To Continue All Week in Wheeling

A Wheeling public works employee navigates a street sweeper on Edgwood Street to clear mud and debris from the road after heavy rain Saturday night. Cleanup efforts are expected to continue throughout the remainder of the week, city officials said.

WHEELING — Cleanup of mud and debris from this weekend’s flooding is expected to continue through the rest of the week in the city of Wheeling, according to Russell Jebbia, director of public works.

Heavy rain Saturday caused flash flooding in several neighborhoods throughout the city.

“The Woodsdale, Edgwood, Oakmont, Park View Lane, Thornburg Place near Riesbeck’s and Burkham Court areas were hit the hardest,” Jebbia said. “We have other washouts in other locations that we will be cleaning up.”

The heavy rain came in waves Saturday, which contributed to the problem of flooding in low-lying areas beginning with the first round, Jebbia noted.

“There were three storms on Saturday,” he said. “The first storm started around 4 p.m., and the flooding issues started during the first storm. The storm damage increased during the second storm and continued through the third, which was around 11:30 p.m. Wheeling Creek was extremely high and was hindering the draining of the storm sewer.

“We had to wait until the drains receded so we could start the cleanup. We were continually clearing the drains and bridge underpasses of debris during the storms.”

Crews from the city’s Operations Division responded to work on street cleanups and reopenings of the streets after the waters receded, and Water Pollution Control worked on clearing the combination sewers in the area, Jebbia said.

No injuries reported, and crews were able to reopen many of the affected roads soon after water receded.

“We have a couple new slips on Glenwood Road from the storms,” Jebbia said. “The West Virginia Division of Highways had to close National Road in the Dimmydale area while they cleaned up a large washout from the Altenheim area.”

Jebbia said crews are expected to continue working through the remainder of the week cleaning up the mud a debris from the flooding.

“We will be working on cleaning the debris out of the culverts and storm systems, and we will continue the street cleanup in all areas,” Jebbia said. “The Sanitation and Operations Division will be picking up flood debris. Residents should place what needs hauled away curbside.”

City residents are reminded — in light of the COVID-19 pandemic — that other household trash being set out on the curb for removal by city refuse crews must be bagged before it is placed in trashed containers for weekly pickup.

Jebbia explained that according to city code, residents should deposit household garbage for collection in standard, leak-proof, water-tight containers with a capacity of no more than 30 gallons and should weigh no more than 50 pounds. However, some of the trash receptacles exceed that size and weight, making it challenging for sanitation personnel to lift and dump safely.

“When the trash is bagged, it can simply be lifted from the container and deposited into the truck,” he said, noting it alleviates the need for workers to handle loose trash, which is of utmost importance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For flood assistance in Ohio County, a call line has been set up to work with the Ohio County Emergency Management officials, according to Sherri Schafer, representative with Community Lutheran Partners. That number is 304-234-3695 for those who are still in need of help coordinating relief efforts with the flooding.

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