Communities hit again by Ohio River flooding, roadways underwater

GALLIA COUNTY, OH (WOWK) — It’s been less than two weeks since the Ohio River jumped its bank, causing widespread flooding. Just as communities started to return to normal, they were hit with another wave of flooding this weekend.

“The ground gets so wet it just comes in the walls, around the doors and floods the floors,” a Gallia County resident said. “We’ve got about an inch and a half [of water] still in some places, it’s still draining out. I’m still cleaning it up.”

According to the National Weather Service , the Ohio River crested at 47 feet in Pomeroy on Sunday, which is lower than what residents saw last time around.

While some residents continue to cleanup from the flooding in early April, mud and debris from flooding over the weekend has added to the mess.

Backwater from the Ohio River left multiple roadways throughout Gallia and Meigs Counties impassible. Residents told 13 News the flooded backroads make it difficult to get to work and school, sometimes doubling their commute.

“They can go to school but they just have to take a longer commute because normally it takes my elementary students about five minutes to get to school and now it takes about twenty,” Gallia County Resident said. “It’s [Ohio River] right up against Route 7. One of those vehicles is going to end up in the water, so I’m like slow down. I despise this road when it’s flooded.”

Schools in Mason County were cancelled on Monday due to high water in roadways. Meanwhile, parents of students in Gallia County said their student’s schools were not cancelled, but traffic had to be rerouted around flooded roadways.

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