Heavy rain Monday generated repeated flood warnings and flash flood watches throughout the night. Richland County residents headed to work this morning to find some roads closed with standing water or gravel and debris washed into the roadways. Other residents weren’t so lucky. Several Possum Run Road residents found driveways completely under a foot or more of water.
According to the National Weather Service in Cleveland, area law enforcement agencies reported widespread flooding, particularly along the Black Fork River. In Shelby, the Black Fork was over its banks and flooding was likely to occur along the Black Fork as far south as Loudonville. Flooding was also likely along the Mohican River.
Streets were also closed in low lying areas of Mansfield and on Possum Run Road, south of Mansfield, residents were unable to leave their homes with water pouring over their driveways.
At 7 a.m. this morning, Richland County engineer employees were working on Possum Run Road at the intersection with Garver Road. Trent Ruhl was shoveling gravel off the road and said that location was a typical problem area. However, he added, “We’ve got washouts in places we’ve never seen before.”
The Weather Service warning noted that most flood deaths occur in automobiles and they advise that motorists never drie vehicles into areas where the water covers the road. Flood waters are usually deeper than they appear and one foot of flowing water is powerful enough to sweep vehicles off the road.
Rain is expected to continue through Wednesday with heavy thunderstorms possible tonight. The flood warning was repeatedly updated Monday night and is currently extended until 5:15 p.m. tonight.
