Flash Flood — Hancock, Ohio

2007-08-21 · near Findlay, Hancock, Ohio

Event narrative

Heavy rain producing thunderstorms affected Hancock County during the late evening hours of August 20th and early morning hours of August 21st. Rainfall rates with the strongest storms approached three inches per hour. An automated sensor at the Findlay Airport measured a total of 5.28 inches. A Cooperative Observer in Findlay measured a storm total of 6.00 inches. Runoff from this rain combined with ground already saturated from earlier rains led to unprecedented and catastrophic flooding across portions of Hancock County. Local officials stated that the flooding in the county was the worst ever! The Findlay area was especially hard hit as the Blanchard River crested 7.5 feet above flood stage. Flooding along the Blanchard River caused both Eagle and Lye Creeks to back up and overflow. Damage along all three was significant. Flooding and damage was also reported along Howard Run on the north side of Findlay. Over 2300 homes and apartments in Hancock County were damaged by flooding. Around 150 of these were damaged enough to be declared destroyed with around 300 more damaged enough to be uninhabitable. The remainder suffered lesser damages, mainly in the form of basement flooding. In addition, dozens of businesses were damaged by the flooding. Government facilities were also hard hit. In Findlay alone, two government buildings were destroyed and several others heavily damaged. Damage to these buildings was estimated to be about $6 million with an additional $2.4 million in losses to six Findlay school buildings. Damage to the City of Findlay water pollution control center was estimated to be around $1.7 million. 41 buildings at Findlay University sustained varying amounts of damage. Nearly 2000 people had to be evacuated during this event. Dozens of rescues also had to be conducted. Water rescue teams from surrounding areas assisted in these efforts. Damage to infrastructure was also significant. Over 50 bridges in the county sustained damage. Damage to these has been estimated at several million dollars. Damage to the East Main Street bridge in Findlay along topped $1 million. Dozens of roads, street and highways, including Interstate 75 had to be closed because of flooding. Cleanup and overtime costs incurred by local government agencies was substantial. Finally, standing water and erosion from the runoff caused damage to agricultural interests in the county.

Wider weather episode

Moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin interacted with a stationary front to cause heavy rain producing thunderstorms over portions of northern Ohio. The thunderstorms trained across Wyanodot, Hancock, Crawford and Richland Counties during the early morning hours of August 21st. Catastrophic flooding occurred in all of these counties.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (41.0300, -83.6500)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 56323. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.