Sun Nov 08 2009
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By TODD HELBERG
Defiance property owners who were flooded three years ago when local rivers rose considerably can expect the same this time around.
During a meeting of city and Defiance County officials this morning at the county Emergency Management Agency center in Brunersburg, Defiance Assistant Fire Chief Pete Schlosser said the Maumee and Auglaize rivers were expected to crest at levels similar to Jan. 14, 2005.
The National Weather Service forecasted this morning that the Maumee would top out at 17.1 feet later today while the Auglaize would crest at 25.2 feet. At 6 a.m. today, the Maumee was at 16.3 feet while the Auglaize stood at 23.6 feet at 5 a.m. today.
The Maumee crest was 16.9 feet on Jan. 14, 2005, which means that those living along the Maumee -- primarily around the Kingsbury Park area -- will see flooding similar to what they had three years ago.
"If your property was affected in 2005, it will be affected this year," said Schlosser.
The same generally goes for those along the Auglaize, but the predicted 25.2-foot crest is closer to Jan. 1, 1991, when the level rose to 25.6 feet, officials indicated.
Schlosser said residents along Riverside Avenue likely won't have first-floor flooding from the Auglaize River, but they will have water in basements.
Some downtown Defiance businesses just south of the Maumee River were also expected to have flooding, and city crews planned to do sandbagging at Defiance Public Library on Fort Street.
Local officials have been busy since Wednesday afternoon when they held their first meeting on the flooding. Since then, officials have alerted affected residents about the need to evacuate, closed roads and streets, set up an emergency shelter at 413 E. Second St. and continued to monitor the situation.
Although no one along the rivers showed up at the Trinity United Methodist shelter operated by the American Red Cross, one official said a family with basement flooding on Perry Street stayed overnight. The shelter is expected to stay open through the day.
Several streets were closed at various points around Kingsbury Park, including Auglaize and Summit. Also closed were East River Drive at North Clinton Street, West Fort Street and West First Street and Jackson Avenue.
Elsewhere in Defiance County some flooding concerns were seen along the Tiffin River south of Evansport and on the Auglaize River south of Defiance.
According to county Engineer Warren Schlatter, rising waters have closed Trinity, Evansport and Schick roads in spots along the Tiffin as well as parts of Power Dam Road near the Auglaize rivers.
Two state routes were also affected.
Ohio 424, between Carpenter Road and the Henry County line, was closed as was Ohio 66, between Watson and Bowman roads.
Officials plan to meet again at 4 p.m. today at the EMA center to review the situation.
For more information on river flooding levels, visit the National Weather Service's website at www.noaa.gov.
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