Flood — Wood, West Virginia

2004-09-17 to 2004-09-20 · Wood, West Virginia

Wider weather episode

As the weakening Hurricane Ivan moved inland across Alabama, light rain began in southern West Virginia on the morning of the 16th. The rain shield moved into northern counties overnight. Heavy rain began before dawn on the 17th around Huntington. The heavier rain moved up the Ohio River counties and engulfed the Ravenswood, Parkersburg, and Sistersville vicinity during the mid morning on the 17th. The heavy rain continue along the Ohio River counties into the mid afternoon, before lifting north and east. The more significant rain rates pivoted through central West Virginia during the late afternoon hours on the 17th before diminishing to drizzle after dark that evening. The low pressure remains of Ivan moved northeast through eastern Tennessee that afternoon, then through southwest Virginia during the evening. The storm moved off the coast during the 18th. A 30 to 36 hour duration event dumped 3.5 to 6 inches of rain. The upper range was concentrated along the Ohio River counties from Huntington through Parkersburg. A secondary maximum in the rain ran south from Parkersburg into northern Kanawha County. Preliminary storm totals from cooperative observers had R C Byrd Lock and Dam with 5.9 inches, Elizabeth 5.0 inches, Wayne 4.9 inches, Sandyville 4.8 inches, downtown Huntington 4.7 inches, downtown Parkersburg 4.6 inches, Ripley 4.5 inches, Charleston 4.2 inches, Huntington and Parkersburg airports 4.1 inches, and Middlebourne with 3.8 inches. Since the remains of Hurricane Frances were just 8 days prior to this rain, small stream flooding was more significant with the remnants of Ivan. Some of the same streams went higher than earlier in the month. Residents of Enslow Park in Huntington, for example, were evacuated due to flooding from Fourpole Creek. Many secondary roads were blocked and closed by small stream flooding during the afternoon and early evening on the 17th. Kanawha Twomile flooded Bonham Elementary School in Kanawha County with 1 to 2.5 feet of water. Maintenance men for the school had to scramble up a ladder to the school roof, to wait out the high water. One of the workers said, "almost like a flip of your finger, that's how fast it happened. It was unreal." During that Friday evening the 17th, a 32 year old male was walking west of Harts in Lincoln County and fell into swollen Frances Creek. He drowned and his body was discovered the next day. Preliminary findings from a state police investigation indicated the man was under the influence of either alcohol or illegal drugs.Most of the small stream flooding receded by late Friday evening the 17th. However, even heavier rain fell over the northern panhandle of West Virginia into western Pennsylvania. Rain amounts of 6 to 8 inches were more common there. As a result, the main stem of the Ohio River rose 1 to 2 feet per hour during the evening of the 17th in the Sistersville to Parkersburg vicinity. For example, at Parkersburg the Ohio River rose from 25.6 feet at 1600E to 33.0 feet at 2200E on the 17th. A slower but steady rise continue into Saturday the 18th. Moderate to major river flooding occurred on the 18th and 19th from the Sistersville vicinity on down through Saint Marys, Williamstown, Vienna, Parkersburg, Ravenswood, and Point Pleasant. The flood wall protected the city of Parkersburg. Backwater also caused flooding, sometimes a few miles from the Ohio River. One example, was along the lower reaches of the Little Kanawha River in Wood County. The crest on the Ohio River dampened below the mouth of the Kanawha River, with mostly minor river flooding through Huntington and Kenova. Specific crests include Willow Island Lock and Dam 44.8 feet, Marietta 2SW 42.4 feet, Parkersburg 43.7 feet, Belleville Lock and Dam 45.8 feet, Racine Lock and Dam 50.2 feet, Point Pleasant 44.6 feet, R C Byrd Lock and Dam 51 feet, and Huntington 51.3 feet. At Parkersburg, the crest was the highest level in 40 years. Back in March 1964, the river reached 45.2 feet at Parkersburg.A FEMA disaster was declared. See declaration 1558 for details. However, the worst damage in West Virginia with this disaster was in the northern panhandle counties, compared to further south. In terms of damage to housing, Tyler County had 5 destroyed and 19 with major damage. Pleasants County had 21 homes destroyed and 10 homes with major damage. Wood County reported several hundred homes affected. The Red Cross reported 19 homes destroyed in Wood County. Wirt County had 21 homes destroyed and 10 with major damage. Jackson County had 14 homes with major damage. Mason County had no homes destroyed, with around 50 dwellings affected. Cabell County reported 5 homes with major damage. Wayne County had 8 homes with major damage. Mingo County saw 15 homes with major damage. Kanawha County reported 8 homes destroyed and 12 homes with major damage. Tyler County reported around 30 businesses destroyed and 8 with major damage. Repairs to the Barboursville sewage system were around $200,000.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5423798. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.