Thursday, June 18th, 2015
County declares emergency due to flooding
No relief seen from rainfall
By Kathy Thompson
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
A high water sign peeks out of a submerged Schunk Road near the intersection of Meyer Road just north of Beaver Creek on Wednesday. The Grand Lake area has been soaked by several days of heavy rains.
CELINA - The rain just keeps falling and relief doesn't appear to be on the way until next week.
Mercer County Commissioners Wednesday declared a state of emergency due to the torrential rain and flooding that have recently hit the area.
Seven inches of rain, including 1.56 inches on Wednesday, have fallen over the past week, local forecaster Dennis Howick said. June, which averages 3.86 inches of rain, has already seen 8.9 inches of rain this year.
Auglaize and Marion counties also have declared states of emergency. Coldwater officials Wednesday, too, declared an emergency situation due to flooding around the village.
The declarations allow officials to seek state assistance, Mike Robbins, Mercer County Emergency Management Agency director, said.
The Mercer County Sheriff's Office this morning reported 31 closed roads and 37 reduced to one lane.
In Auglaize County, the sheriff's office reported nine closed roads and two with high water.
The road situation will continue to change over the next few days, Robbins said.
"This is a fluid situation, no pun intended, but this changes almost hourly," Robbins said.
Ohio EMA Executive Director Sima Merick traveled the state Wednesday, assuring officials of counties affected by flooding that her department is ready to help.
"We all know Mercer County is very resilient but we're here to help if needed," Merick said.
"Right now, we're going to probably need signs and barricades," Robbins said. "But if need be, we can also ask for funding."
Gov. John Kasich would need to ask for federal funding, if necessary, Robbins said.
"We're not there yet," Robbins added. "And we're not guaranteed funding."
According to Merick's office, the rain is expected to continue today with a few severe thunderstorms possible this afternoon. Dry weather is likely Friday but rains could return Saturday as the remnants of Tropical Storm Bill pass through the area. Some storms are also possible Sunday and Monday.
Rockford Mayor Amy Joseph said members of the Parkway High School football and softball teams had spent the day helping fill sandbags to place near dikes behind Barry's Friendly Market.
"There's a boat dock that water is seeping in," Joseph said. "So we're going to plug that up as best we can."
Robbins said the St. Marys River crested early this morning and is slowly receding.
Grand Lake also crested about 4 a.m., Robbins said, and it should also recede but at a slower pace.
No residents have reported being displaced from their homes by the flooding but Robbins said some people may be staying with relatives and not reporting evacuations.
An elderly couple was helped out of a camper at Fort Recovery's Ambassador Park and a woman was assisted on Fleetfoot Road near the bike path after her car stalled in deep water, county 911 director Monte Diegel said.
"But thankfully, we've had no one injured or with any serious issues due to the flooding," he said.
Red Cross Disaster Program Manager for Mercer County Bill Steinbrunner said he had heard reports of some residents leaving their homes but no one had called his office for help.
His office is prepared to help residents and shelter sites are available, Steinbrunner said. The shelters are not yet open but his agency is monitoring the situation.
"We're hoping for the best," Robbins said.
Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey has warned residents that driving during flooding is dangerous and added that if drivers become stranded after disobeying a high water sign, they will be cited.
"There's a lot of flash flooding out there right now," Grey said Wednesday. "It'd just be better if people didn't drive at all unless it's absolutely necessary."
Merick said her office is staffed constantly while the state remains under flood watches and emergencies.
"We're all working hard to make sure people stay safe and to offer any assistance," Merick said.
Photo by Mark Pummell/The Daily Standard
Logan Griner, left, Ian Speck, flipping, and Matt Uhlenhake on Wednesday take advantage of a deep puddle to have some fun on East Main Street near state Route 118 in St. Henry.
Photo by Nancy Allen/The Daily Standard
Karen Moran of Celina, Morgan Link, Madilynn Link and Makenna Hardin on Wednesday afternoon watch sticks flow over the swollen West Bank spillway on Grand Lake.
Photo by Aaron Snyder/The Daily Standard
Some boys on Wednesday play in a new pond behind Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Coldwater. The area is normally a gravel parking lot but the adjacent Coldwater Creek overflowed its banks, creating the body of water.
Photo by Doug Drexler/The Daily Standard
Water rushes over the dike holding Coldwater Creek near the intersection of Coldwater Creek and St. Anthony roads.
