Tue Feb 09 2010
From staff and wire reports
OTTAWA -- Scattered thunderstorms moved across the village of Ottawa today and residents raced to pile more sandbags in front of homes and storefronts in the midst of the third major flood in less than two years.
Water crept into the downtown business district, and Ottawa-Glandorf Local Schools and Brookhill Center were closed as the Blanchard River rose to nearly six feet above its flood stage of 23 feet early this morning.
High waters elsewhere in the county also resulted in the rescue of an elderly man whose vehicle was swept off a county road on Monday.
While the National Weather Service (NWS) indicated that the river was receding, forecasters cautioned of the potential for one to two inches of rain across the region through tonight and the threat of more flooding in Ottawa and other low-lying areas across northwest Ohio's flat farmlands.
Authorities on Monday declared a level three road advisory for Putnam County, meaning anyone driving on water-covered roads could be arrested. The sheriff's office and the Putnam County EMA are requesting all unnecessary traffic to and from the village to stay away from the area.
"Violators can be arrested if they are not traveling in these areas for a legitimate and lawful purpose," said Sheriff James Beutler.
Emergency officials were also called to rescue a motorist stranded in high water Monday afternoon.
According to the sheriff's office, Harris True, 83, of Deshler, was driving on a portion of Hancock-Putnam County Line Road, south of U.S. 224, that was under water. True's car was swept by the current off the side of the road and approximately 100 yards out into a field. The car started to sink and stopped moving in about four feet of water.
Deputies reported that True exited the vehicle and held on to the door until rescue personnel reached him by boat. He was in the water for nearly an hour.
True was transported to St. Rita's Ambulatory Care Center, Glandorf, for treatment. Assisting the sheriff's dive team were Pandora and Gilboa fire departments and Pandora and Ottawa EMS.
In addition, the village of Ottawa and Putnam County commissioners have declared a state of emergency. An American Red Cross shelter has been set up at Trinity United Methodist Church, located at Main and Pratt streets.
The river crested at 31.7 feet during a flood in August 2007, the village's worst since 1913. Dozens of homes and business were damaged, and then-President George Bush declared the area a major disaster area. That was followed by another flood in February 2008 that saw the river reach 29.3 feet and cause more damage.
In nearby Findlay, the Blanchard River crested at about 15.4 feet Monday, some four feet above flood stage.
High water had forced about 12 people to leave their homes for a Red Cross shelter.
The weather service also issued flood warnings for the Sandusky River at Fremont and Tiffin and the Maumee River near Grand Rapids and at Waterville.
In the Defiance area, the NWS reported the Auglaize River at Power Dam was at 22.78 feet at 6:45 a.m. today. The waterway is expected to crest later today around 22.9 feet, well above the flood stage of 17 feet.
In Oakwood, Paulding County EMA director Randy Shaffer added that the Auglaize River was across Ohio 66, closing the roadway to motorists. He had no specific figures for the level of the water but anticipated it to crest sometime this afternoon.
The Maumee River in Defiance was observed at 14.05 feet at 6:30 a.m. today The river was expected to continue to rise to approximately 15.4 feet on Wednesday. Flood stage is 10 feet.
In Napoleon, the Maumee River was also rising. The river level was at 13.59 feet at 6:30 a.m. today, above the 10-foot flood stage. The river was predicted to crest at 15.6 feet on Thursday.
The St. Joseph River in Montpelier was last measured at 12.3 feet Monday morning, just above the flood stage of 12 feet. The NWS predicted the river will crest at approximately 16 feet late Thursday at the major flood stage.
Also in Williams County, the Tiffin River stood at 14.1 feet at 6 a.m. today, well above the flood stage of 11 feet. The river was expected to crest at 15.9 feet on Thursday.
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