Flash Flood in Sandusky County, Ohio

Thunderstorms dumped torrential rains on Sandusky County during the evening hours of June 21st and early morning hours of the 22nd. Rainfall rates with the stronger storms approached three inches per hour. Rainfall totals for the event include: 7.5 inches in northeastern Townsend Township; 5.0 inches at Woodville; 4.5 inches north of Fremont; 4 inches in Clyde and 3.5 inches in Lindsey. Widespread flash flooding occurred in the county as a result of this heavy rain. Flooding was reported in Fremont with many streets flooded with 2 to 3 feet of water. Residents of an apartment complex in Fremont were evacuated after flooding occurred on the ground floor of their building. A YMCA building nearby was also heavily damaged. Thirty homes along Clinton Street were damaged by flooding. Dozens of other homes and businesses were damaged in Fremont by basement or nuisance flooding. Flooding was also bad in the portion of Bellevue in Sandusky County. Homes along Attwood Terrace were flooded and residents began evacuating around 1 a.m. on the 22nd. Over a dozen vehicles were stranded by flooding in Bellevue alone. Extensive flooding was also reported in Woodville, Clyde and in Riley and Townsend Townships. Many roads had to be closed because of flooding. Damage to roads occurred at several locations in the county. Local officials stated that this flooding was the worst seen in the county since July 4th, 1969.