Flood — Stark, Ohio

2005-01-01 to 2005-01-20 · Stark, Ohio

Wider weather episode

Heavy rain and runoff from snowmelt caused widespread flooding in Stark County the first half of January. January 2005 was the fifth wettest January ever at the Akron-Canton Airport with 5.62 inches of rain for the month. Cooperative observers in Louisville measured 7.05 inches during the month. In addition to this rain, extensive snowpack existed over Stark County 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 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. Major flooding occurred on streams and rivers, especially in southern Stark County. Nimishillen Creek at North Industry crested around a foot above flood stage on the 12th. Extensive flooding also occurred along the Tuscarawas River in southern Stark County as a direct result of flood mitigation activities at reserviors downstream. Major flooding also was reported along Little Sandy and Sugar Creeks as a result of backups caused by record high water levels at reservoirs just south of the county line. Occupants of six homes along Sugar Creek had to be evacuated with an additional 50 homes accessible only by boat. The Brewster area was about the hardest hit spot in the county with at least two people needing to rescued on January 6th. Flood waters in some parts of the town were as much as 10 feet deep with at least six feet of water at the water treatment plant. A mobile home park had to be evacuated. Extensive flooding was also reported in Minerva, Navarre, East Sparta and Canal Fulton. Dozens of roads had to be closed because of flooding with a few remaining closed for as much as two weeks. In addition to the river and lowland 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. All total, over a hundred homes were severely damaged by flooding with many hundreds more sustaining at least minor damage.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5435335. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.