Ottawa County News

ALERT GUARDS AS WATERS RISE IN FLOOD AREAS

Many Roads Inundated As Rains Cause Rivers and Creeks To Overflow

With colder weather giving an assist, the flood conditions throughout northwestern Ohio were alleviated Thursday although the threat of further rains kept emergency committees ready for immediate action in neighboring cities.

Numerous roads are closed in the area, including Route 2 near Bono (water also covers the road in Erie Township near the Three-Mile Crossing), Route 163 between Oak Harbor and Elmore; the Oak Harbor-Fremont road, and Route 53 near the sugar beet factory in Fremont.

With Sunday night's slushy snow and rain storm giving a big assist, the Portage River and Lake Erie reached flood stage Monday and Tuesday as sewers and drainage ditches were clogged with the overflow.

At Catawba Cliffs Beach Club, Bob Kyle reported the water stood four feet above the low water datum on the gauge installed last June by the Lake Service Bureau.

The lake water was at a level with the docks in that area, and had overflowed in areas along the Portage River and near the Yacht club.

Port Clinton's Ohio National Guard unit, the 1428th Engineer Treadway Bridge Company, was alerted Tuesday noon to stand by for possible emergency action in the Fremont-Tiffin-Findlay flood area.

Other national guard units in this vicinity were also alerted at the same time. Port Clinton's unit could be of definite aid in flood rescue work, as it is equipped with outboard motor boats, pontoons and other equipment.

Officials of the threatened cities sent workers to Camp Perry Tuesday where 600 army cots were issued by Major John Elliott, camp superintendent, and taken to Fremont and Tiffin for possible emergency usage.

As waters continued to rise in the Sandusky River, schools were dismissed in Fremont and lowland residents prepared to evacuate their homes.

Scores of rural roads were inundated, and State Route 53, between Port Clinton and Fremont, was ordered closed early Wednesday when river waters surged across the heavily traveled highway.

Port Clinton police were notified Wednesday that the State bridge in Fremont was in danger, with the water stage at 13.7 feet, and that Front Street was under water as was the area near Memorial Park.

Numerous emergency flood committees were operating in Fremont. Paul Kridler is chairman of the disaster preparedness committee and Mrs. Walter Sneider of the Sandusky County Red Cross is in charge of the canteen committee. Fire Chief Urban Myers had lined up numerous boats for use in possible rescue measures.

Mayor Harold Whitcomb had stated that the 12-foot stage could be recognized as the danger point at the river bridge, but that point was surpassed Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile flood conditions continued to prevail in the Port Clinton lowlands area, but they are not as serious as elsewhere.

For the first time in many months, the high water covered Route 2 in Erie Township near the Three-Mile Crossing in the area where the road change is proposed. Nearer the city, water splashed over the highway as stormy Lake Erie tossed its waves against the rocks.

Genoa schools were closed Monday due to the slushy snow and ice on back roads. The ice condition also hit Woodville, where schools were closed, but no ice was in evidence here.

By Tuesday, the slushy snow had almost disappeared but the rains continued and lowlands were flooded throughout the area.

Many residents in the city fought a losing fight to keep their basements from flooding.