Flood in Marion, Ohio

Heavy rain and runoff from snowmelt caused extensive flooding in Marion County the first half of January. The worst of the flooding occurred along the Scioto River with the communities of LaRue and Prospect especially hard hit. January 2005 was among the wettest January's on record with 7.08 inches of rain measured at Marion and 7.69 inches at Prospect during the month. In addition to this rain, extensive snowpack existed over Marion County at the beginning of the month. Temperatures in the 40s and 50s the first three days of the month caused a rapid snowmelt and brought area streams and creeks to bankfull just in time for a significant winter storm on the 5th and 6th. Then, just as things began to return to normal, heavy rains fell on the area on the 11th, 12th and 13th causing conditions to once again worsen. At LaRue, the Scioto River went above the flood stage of 11 feet just after midnight on the 1st. The river then remained in flood or just below flood through the middle of the month with crests of 12.7 feet on the 1st and 12.6 feet on the the 6th. Major flooding occurred at Prospect with the river going above the 9 foot flood stage late on the 1st. The river remained in flood through the 18th with a peak crest of 14.17 feet on January 7th. 20 to 30 homes were heavily damaged along Main Street in Prospect with many more damaged in LaRue. Several roads in Marion County had to be closed because of the flooding. Sump pump failures caused by power outages from the ice storm of January 5th and 6th led to many homes sustaining damage from basement flooding. Other homes and business in the county were affected by lowland or nuisance flooding.