Flood Waters Damage Homes, Businesses In Central Ohio

High water caused flooding across central Ohio Tuesday morning.  By the afternoon, much of the water had receded but the clean-up will not be easy.

Perry County

The Perry County Emergency Management Agency declared a Flood Emergency early Tuesday as waters rose quickly in the area.

The county EMA director said that the villages of Corning and Crooksville were badly hit by the high waters. Main Street in Crooksville was flooded during much of the morning, preventing travel through town.

The Crooksville Village Green Apartments and the Fra-More Mobile Home Park were both evacuated by boat to Crooksville High School. Red Cross officials said at least 16 units of the Village Green apartments were also affected.

Flood waters left Elizabeth Lear homeless, along with at least a dozen others at her apartment complex.

“This was home, this is everything you own everything I own, gone,” said Lear.

Lear said the water reached at least five inches inside.

Residents said that they have not had flooding like this since 2004.

Some residents blamed the flooding on a railroad bridge. The fire department says it was lowered when the bridge was rebuilt in 2003.

Residents say every time a hard rain comes, the water backs-up the creek making flooding even worse.

Red Cross officials set up a shelter at Crooksville High School on Ceramic Way to help flooding victims.  At least 15 people were using the shelter Tuesday morning, according to the Red Cross.

“This is when the commitment of our volunteers is most evident – during times of emergency,” said Matt Bertram, CEO of the Central-Southeast Region of the American Red Cross.  

Officials said they also shut down all rail traffic in Crooksville. The Main Street Bridge in Crooksville was closed to traffic but re-opened around 12:45 p.m.

In Corning, about 12 families were evacuated to the Corning Civics Center. There were also reports from witnesses of waist-high water in roads near Corning.

A convenience store owner worked Tuesday afternoon to save what he could in his business. Thousands of dollars of products were ruined at John’s Place.

Down the road, Josh Altier said this is the eighth time in 25 years that he’s seen his mom’s Corning salon underwater.

On Adam Street, a boat floated about 100 yards down the road.

Tara Reed said her family found water up to the windshield in four of their vehicles when they woke up on Tuesday morning.

“I almost had that car paid for too in December,” she said.

Some residents told 10TV that this was the most flooding they have seen in the area since 1998.

Richland County

The Richland County Sheriff said that 5th Street in downtown Mansfield was flooded Tuesday morning, and the fire department was evacuating people from homes using boats.

In Mansfield, 10TV crews found flooding on Park Avenue East where roads and railroad tracks were underwater. Some cars were nearly submerged.

On Mulberry Street, employees at H&H Plumbing and Heating were cleaning up water and mud from inside of their building. The owner said about two inches of water found its way into the shop.

The Sheriff said that in the town of Shelby, the football field was under water. Several viewers sent pictures of the damage to 10TV.

He also said that the fire department had to be evacuated because of high water and the Black Fork Creek was about to go over its banks.

Residents in Bellville were also flooded, according to the sheriff.

Morrow County

The Whetstone Creek flooded its banks in Mt. Gilead.

The good news is the waters steadily receded during the afternoon.

In Morrow County, the Lee Street apartments in Mt. Gilead were flooded. Seventy-five people in 20 units were affected by the flood waters. The Red Cross was providing flood clean up kits to the residents.
“Overwhelming, never expected anything like this, always see this on TV,” said apartment manager, Jeanne Snipes.

Tenant Mary Grubb remembers the last time it flooded here two years ago - even worse than this.

"I just though deja vu...here we go again,” said Grubb.

Marty Goff, 81 told 10TV that he was shocked Tuesday morning. Since he could not go back home, Goff spent the day sitting in his car at the edge of the flood waters along with his dog.

Knox County

According to the Knox County EMA, Fredericktown and Danville were hit the hardest in that area.

Campers were moved to higher ground at Camp Kokosing over concerns of the rising Mohican River.

Knox County closed roads include S.R. 205, S.R. 95 north of Tom's Road, and Knox Lake Road.

In Galion, S.R. 309 on North East Street to Harding Way East was re-opening before noon. Officials said they will continue to monitor the level of the Olentangy River.

If you have pictures of flooding, share them by sending them to PIX@10TV.com.