VW County seeing historic levels of rain

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

With some historic rainfalls already seen in Van Wert County, and likely more on the way — including some rain Saturday associated with Tropical Storm Bill — more flooding is likely in the county, according to Van Wert County Emergency Management Director Rick McCoy.

McCoy said recent storms are like nothing the county has seen in more than 90 years.

“We’ve had big events that have caused flooding,” McCoy said, “but I looked back to 1924 and there has never been anything like this.”

Low-lying areas of the county, including Jennings Creek near Delphos and areas of the St. Marys River around Willshire are already seeing flooding, with more to come, possibly, if weather forecasts hold true.

McCoy said the city of Van Wert has seen 8 inches of rain in the past week, with nearly 10 inches coming down in some rural areas of the county.

The EMA director said Ohio 49 and U.S. 33 are closed in the Willshire area, with Ohio 81 the only major route still open in the area.

Currently, the St. Marys River is at 22.6 feet, with 17 feet the flood stage for the river in the Willshire area. McCoy said he thinks the river could exceed the record of 26.9 feet seen in 1992 and 2003.

“We’re creeping up there,” the EMA director said, noting that more rain is forecast for today — although that storm could stay south of the county like the one on Tuesday.

Thursday should be the next major storm in the area, with rainfall similar to Monday night, McCoy said Tuesday.

“Thursday, the whole atmosphere will go to town, just like it did last night and we could have some really heavy rain — we’re talking inches,” McCoy said, adding that the county could only see a half-inch or three-quarters of an inch of rain today.

Another big storm could hit the county on Saturday, just in time for the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure, which will start Saturday at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds. Saturday’s storm is associated with Tropical Storm Bill and could result in 2-4 inches of additional rain in the county, and that could spell even bigger trouble for low-lying areas of the county.

McCoy noted that volunteers have been sandbagging areas of Willshire and the Delphos area and added that the Van Wert County Chapter of the American Red Cross has been feeding volunteers helping out with placing sandbags around homes and businesses.

The EMA director added that the Red Cross is also getting prepared to set up shelters if flooding worsens.

In addition to the flooding aspect, McCoy said farmers have also taken a huge hit from the day-after-day rainfall.

“That’s a sad situation,” he said, noting that many farmers haven’t even been able to plant crops in their fields, while many of those who have are now looking at flooded fields and ruined crops.

“There’s a lot of stuff underwater that we’re going to lose,” McCoy said.