Flood in Erie County, Ohio

Devastating and widespread flooding developed in Erie County on June 22nd as runoff from the heavy thunderstorm rains that fell during the evening of the 21st made it's way into area streams and rivers. Initially much of the flooding in the county was in urban areas where water several feet deep accumulated on streets and roads as a result of overwhelmed storm sewers and drainage ditches. But after the rain quit, this flooding diminished during the early morning hours of the 22nd. The improvement in conditions was short lived as runoff caused area streams and rivers to quickly rise as daybreak on the 22nd approached. By 5:30 a.m. evacuations were being conducted along the Huron River near Milan. Evacuations in Perkins Township began around 7:30 a.m. and by early afternoon residents in the Milan Township community of Franklin Flats were being evacuated. In Perkins Township, Pipe Creek left it's banks flooding six streets in the Lakeland Subdivision, Terrace Court Mobile Home Park and Searsville. Fifty homes on these streets were evacuated after flood waters reached three to four feet in depth. A total of 75 people had to be rescued by boat in this area. Franklin Flats was also devastated by flooding as the Huron River rose from a stage of 6.5 feet just after midnight to 23.95 feet around 2 pm on the 22nd. Much of this rise occurred after 9 a.m. At least half of the homes in Franklin Flats were heavily damaged by the flooding. Flooding along the Vermilion River resulted in several homes being evacuated along Riverside Drive in Vermilion. Three piers and several boats in this area were washed out into Lake Erie. A total of 20 homes were destroyed by flooding in Erie County with 25 homes suffering major damage and 79 more with minor damage. Several motorists has to be rescued from stranded vehicles. In addition, 64 mobile homes in Terrace Court and Franklin Flats were heavily damaged. Several hundred additional homes and businesses sustained damage from either basement or nuisance flooding. A total of 573 people were evacuated in the county by emergency personnel. Damage to roads, culverts and bridges was significant. Crop losses in the county are expected to be substantial as standing water was reported over most of the county. Local officials stated that this flooding was the worst in the county since the storms of July 4th, 1969.