Flash Flood — Portage, Ohio

2003-07-21 to 2003-07-22 · near Countywide, Portage, Ohio

Event narrative

Thunderstorms dumped heavy rains on Portage County. Rainfall rates at times exceeded two inches per hour. Rainfall totals for the day exceeded four inches in some areas with highest amounts across the central portion of the county. Spotters in Kent measured 4.13 inches of rain by 8:30 p.m. and a total of 4.6 inches of rain fell at the water treatment plant in Kent. Mantua received 4.7 inches of rain by 9:00 p.m. and 3.6 inches of rain fell at Ravenna between 7 and 9 p.m. Extensive lowland and urban flooding occurred as many stream and creeks left their banks. The northern and central portions of the county were the hardest hit by the flooding. Knee deep water was reported over large sections of Ravenna just after sunset and bucket surveys indicate that as much as 7 inches of rain may have fallen on the city. Boats had to be sent to a mobile home park on the west side of the city to rescue 101 residents. Around 150 homes and businesses were damaged in Ravenna. Reports of up to 5 inches of rain were received from Aurora. Many homes were damaged in this area and several roads were washed out. The Holiday Acres and Pike Parkway neighborhoods in Streetsboro were hard hit with water in some areas up to four feet deep. The occupants of five motor vehicles had to be rescued. Kent was also hard hit with many damaged homes and washed out streets. Damage to roads and bridges in the county was near $1 million. Hundreds of homes were damaged in the county and damage to private property topped $20 million.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5376644. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.