Flood in Lawrence County, Ohio

During the heavy rain, 13 of the 15 fire departments in the county were responding to water related incidents. At least 15 water rescues were conducted by the fire departments and law enforcement. The county declared a local emergency.

Throughout the county, 6 dwellings were destroyed, 8 had major damage, and 14 had minor damage. The Red Cross provided temporary housing to 6 families, while many other displaced residents stayed with family or friends. A large landslide damaged County Route 5 along Elkins Creek.

A strong southerly flow, ahead of a cold front, transported very moist air through Tennessee, Kentucky and into southeast Ohio. Surface dew points were in the mid and upper 60s. Wave after wave in the mid and upper levels helped trigger widespread showers, with embedded thunderstorms. These training rains first affected Jackson and Vinton Counties between 0500E and 0600E on Sunday May 2nd. The heaviest rains arched into Athens County and eventually sank slowly south, to affect Lawrence, Gallia, and Meigs Counties later in the day.

The rains continued into the evening hours on the 2nd, then diminished during the late evening. However, some light rain lingered until after midnight on the 3rd.

The rain amounts over about an 18 to 20 hour period were mostly 3.5 to 4.5 inches across Lawrence, Jackson, Viinton, Gallia, Meigs, and Athens Counties. Waterloo in northern Lawrence County reported 4.8 inches for the maximum. McArthur in Vinton County and Jackson in Jackson County both measured around 4.3 inches. The town of Athens had 4.1 inches, while Gallipolis had 3.9 inches, and South Point measured 3.8 inches. An automatic gauge in Gallia County, between Gallipolis and Rio Grande measured 3.7 inches.

Small stream flooding was common. Roads were flooded. Some small bridges and culverts were washed out. Two men drowned near the Athens County line in Morgan County.