Flood — Wayne, Ohio

2005-01-03 to 2005-01-16 · Wayne, Ohio

Wider weather episode

Heavy rain and runoff from snowmelt caused extensive flooding in Holmes and Wayne Counties during the first half of January. The flooding was most severe along and near Killbuck Creek which went into flood around midday on January 3rd. Heavy rain and freezing rain fell on the 5th and 6th causing the creek to reach it's highest level in 26 years at Killbuck. A peak crest of 18.17 feet was reached late in the evening on the 6th. Rainfall totals for the two day storm included 2.16 inches at Millersburg; 2.64 inches at Nashville and 1.88 inches at Berlin, all in Holmes County. Flooding at Killbuck was classified as major with evacuations beginning along Water Street around sunset on the 5th. Extensive flooding also occurred on the south side of Millersburg with 25 homes evacuated in two mobile home parks on South Washington Street. Killbuck Creek finally went back below flood stage early on the 16th. A large landslide occurred along State Route 39 just east of Walnut Creek. Three people had to be rescued near Glenmont after a small bridge over Black Creek collapsed. Dozens of roads, including US. Highway 62, State Route 60 and State Route 83 had be closed because of flooding. In Wayne County, flooding was reported in Wooster along Grosjean, Spruce, South and Henry Streets. State Routes 3, 95, 301 and 302 also had to be closed because of flooding. Damage to just the state routes in the county totaled nearly $500,000. January rainfall totals from the cooperative observer network included: 6.54 inches at Wooster (Wayne County); 6.93 inches at Congress (Wayne County); 5.71 inches at Marshallville (Wayne County) and 6.44 inches at Millersburg (Holmes County). In addition to this rain, extensive snowpack existed over Wayne and Holmes Counties at the beginning of the month. Temperatures in the 50s the first three days of the month caused a rapid snowmelt and brought area streams and creeks to bankfull just in time for the record ice storm on the 5th and 6th. Sump pump failures caused by power outages resulting from this storm led to many homes sustaining damage from basement flooding. Then, just as the flood waters began to recede, more heavy rain fell on the 11th, 12th and 13th causing conditions to once again worsen. Well over a thousand homes reported flood related damages. A few of the homes, especially along Killbuck Creek were heavily damaged.

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Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5435202. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.