Saturday, April 27th, 2019
Heavy rains lead to flooding
By Sydney Albert
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard
High water floods Oliver Street on Friday in St. Marys.
Major roads were closed, homes and businesses were flooded and school classes were delayed or canceled on Friday after waterways and tiles already swollen by recent wet weather were overwhelmed by overnight rains.
Mercer County Engineer James Wiechart said Friday morning that the situation was very dynamic. The county had been split into four quadrants, with manpower spreading out to monitor county roads. Snowplows were deployed in the northern and southern parts of the county to clear away debris as water receded in some areas. As some roads were closed entirely, others had their berms marked with cones, and Wiechart asked motorists to be cautious. He estimated crews would be cleaning up roads for a week or more after the water recedes.
Grand Lake was about 25.59 inches above normal pool on the west bank, according to an Ohio Department of Natural Resources email. The Ohio Department of Transportation closed a stretch of U.S. 127 between state routes 274 and 29 due to flooding near the Grand Lake spillway that had already swamped several businesses. Nearby, Mercer Health's Community Medical Center was closed, the parking lot filled with water, and sandbags were piled at entrances. All offices, including urgent care, were temporarily relocated to Mercer County Community Hospital in Coldwater.
Mindy Kremer, Mercer Health senior director of development, marketing and community relations, said the length of the closure would depend upon how quickly water levels drop. Administrative officials met throughout the day Friday to analyze the situation, she said, and any changes or updates would be posted on Mercer Health's website or Facebook page.
ODNR staff reportedly observed damage early Thursday morning to the historic Miami-Erie Canal structure above Six-Mile Creek during a routine inspection. According to a news release, ODNR workers were installing two coffer dams and limiting flow at other points along the canal north of Grand Lake to limit water running through the canal and stabilize the situation. State Route 66 was closed between U.S. 33 and State Route 197 due to high water in that area.
Mercer County Emergency Management Agency Administrative Assistant Sheryle Kuhn said the office had received reports of residential flooding along the lake and requests for sandbags. At least one house in Montezuma took on a lot of water overnight, she said.
Residents looking for sandbags can find them at the Celina Fire Department and the EMA office, though Kuhn said they would have to fill the bags themselves at places such as Grand Lake Builders or Stoneco. Montezuma residents can also find sandbags at the Montezuma Fire Department.
Celina Mayor Jeff Hazel stated at noon Friday that the lake's water level was expected to continue rising throughout the day, and was expected to crest in about 12-15 hours. Lake Shore Drive and some other streets were closed.
"We are watching the situation closely. We have been able to get a couple people out of their homes where the water was at their front door, but other than that, there's been no other damages, and we are being currently able to sustain all city systems," Hazel said.
St. Marys Public Service and Safety Director Greg Foxhoven said work crews have been busy. Several water department employees were out Thursday night setting up pumps in areas that have been troubled by flooding before, and general services crews were out throughout the day putting up road closure signs.
"We have significant flooding in St. Marys. The St. Marys River is out of its banks and is flowing into the canal. We have a lot of homes that have flood damage in the basements, we have some businesses that have been affected," Foxhoven said.
The city has been providing sandbags to residents in need. The general services department will provide bags and help citizens fill them and, if needed, can deliver some as well. Foxhoven said city workers had already delivered some sandbags to industries on South Park Drive.
"Our workforce did an amazing job considering what Mother Nature dealt them last night," he continued.
Local weatherman Dennis Howick measured 2.1 inches of rain from 6 p.m. Thursday night to about noon on Friday. He also measured half an inch of rain on Thursday, an inch of rain on Tuesday and more than an inch of rain on Monday. With so many roads closed, he believed this was the worst flooding the area had experienced since July 2003.
Unfortunately, the forecast does not offer much relief. Light precipitation is expected today. Sunday is the only dry day in the 10-day forecast, Howick said. He had no estimates yet for how much rain the area would get over that time period.
The severe wet weather will also continue to delay planting for area farmers, Auglaize County Farm Service Agency director Anita Green said. Green called the flooding in Auglaize County significant; both the Auglaize and St. Marys rivers were flooding, and drainage ditches and field tiles that had already been saturated were overflowing.
Green expects the National Ag Statistics Service report to be released on Monday will show the area is well behind average planting counts for this time of year. This spring has been "exceptional" in terms of delays, she said. Certain herbicides could require farmers to wait a few more weeks after application, adding another potential planting delay. The soggy conditions of last fall might have also prevented some farmers from tilling their fields.
Farmers are dealing with elements beyond their control, and Green expressed hope that everyone would remain patient. She also said that the public should be vigilant when the weather starts to clear as farmers will likely be eager to get to work.
The weather has also affected plans for weekend events. The Wildflower Hike at Kuffner Nature Preserve north of St. Marys has been canceled due to excessive rain.
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard
Greg Noll carries a sandbag to help seal off doorways to prevent flooding at the Mercer Health's Doctors' Urgent Care in Celina on Friday.
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard
Thunderstorms and flooding caused damage to the historic Miami-Erie Canal structure above Six-Mile Creek on Friday morning, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard
Floodwaters surround a Nissan sedan on Friday morning on South Sugar Street in Celina.
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard
Sandbags are piled up in front of doorways to prevent flooding at Mercer Health Doctors' Urgent Care in Celina on Friday.
Photo by Dan Melograna/The Daily Standard
Farm debris washes up on Lee Westerheide's seawall at 6600 Hillside Court near Montezuma on Friday morning.
