MOUNT VERNON — Rivers throughout the state of Ohio are expected to crest by noon on Tuesday, according to a weather update issued today at noon by the National Weather Service.
“All the rivers are above normal, some are significantly high,” said Sarah Jamison, service hydrologist for NWS in Cleveland.
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The following roads are closed due to high water
Apple Valley Drive off of Danville-Amity Road.
Ohio 205 between Shadley Valley Road and Orange Hill Road.
Wally Road.
The following roads are now open:
Glenn Road
Zion Road
Hazel Dell Road
Sparta Road
Killduff Road
Lower Green Valley Road
The Kokosing River was listed at 12 feet and .12 inches at the time. The river crests at 14 feet, according to Knox County Emergency Management Agency Director Brian Hess.
“The Kokosing River will be able to crest and we can contain that,” Hess said.
What he worries about, however, is the risk of substantial flooding in Knox County from the Mohican River headwaters.
“We could see substantial flooding from the Mohican headwaters,” Hess said. “That’s usually a day or two after localized flooding.”
At the time he was not concerned with the water levels of Knox Lake; however, a representative from Berlin Township said there were properties on Shipley Road that have water up to the houses.
Residents in a manufactured home park on Lakeland Road in Berlin Township now have access into and out of the park after the Knox County Engineer’s Office opened a bridge that was nearing completion. Prior to this move, residents had no way in or out of the park because of the rising waters that flooded the detour around the bridge. The homes are safe from water.
Hess said he had been in contact with the Fredericktown Volunteer Fire Department in case the first responders were needed to assist the residents. Many of the department’s volunteers are working with agencies in Richland County on mutual aid. If the FVFD’s boat is not accessible to reach residents, Eastern Knox County Joint Fire District has a boat that can be utilized.
Sunday’s warm temperatures melted the snow creating nearly an inch of water that saturated the ground. Nearly 2 inches of rain fell in Knox County since Sunday evening.
“The rain came very heavy, very fast,” Jamison said. “It resulted in a flash flood with 3 inches of run off.”
Jamison warned that dropping temperatures throughout today and tonight can lead to slippery roads and black ice by Tuesday morning.
County residents with needs that cannot be met due to flooding, can call EMA at 393-6772 for assistance.
A flood watch remains in effect until 7 p.m.
