Lt. Mike Matala, commander of the ERS unit, said the area saw up to four inches of rainfall between Wednesday and Thursday morning, prompting teams to mobilize Wednesday night in anticipation of rising water.
Calls began around 9 p.m. as flooding started in multiple parts of the county. One of the first requests came from the Morgan Twp. Fire Department, which asked the ERS team to help in the area of Chapel Road and Okeana Drewsburg Road.
“Water was up to porches, up into the houses, starting to go into homes,” Matala said. “Some elderly individuals requested assistance with being evacuated and we were able to assist the fire department with that aspect.”
Shortly after clearing that area, crews responded to two more emergencies in Morgan Twp. involving vehicles driven into high water. One vehicle on Race Lane had been pushed 40 to 50 yards off the roadway into a field, with water rising past the door glass.
A second vehicle, a minivan about 200 yards away, was also stuck in floodwaters.
Crews assisted both drivers out safely, Matala said.
“It’s been a busy 24 hours,” he said.
The homes most affected were along Okeana Drewsburg Road and Church Street, the sheriff’s office said via Facebook. Stranded vehicles were mainly along Race Street and Alert New London Road.
Early Thursday morning, Journal-News was on-scene as a crew from Ohio Department of Transportation worked to clear drains on a flooded Germantown Road in Madison Twp., which was closed as part of the effort.
Excessive rains also caused flooding in the parking lot at Poasttown First Church of God, 6376 Germantown Road.
Middletown police responded early Thursday to reports of water rising on a camp of homeless people, according to Fire Chief Brian Wright. The water was up to the individuals’ waists, and all were rescued with no injuries, Wright said.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
Sgt. Brian Ungerbuehler, spokesman for Hamilton Police Department, told Journal-News that HPD had some reports of localized street flooding Wednesday, specifically at Park Avenue near B Street, Eaton Avenue at Rhea Avenue, and B Street and Main Street, but “no major incidents occurred.”
“It looks like things cleared up quickly on their own,” Ungerbuehler said Thursday.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
Matala, of the sheriff’s office’s Emergency Response Services team, said that when it comes to floodwater conditions, residents should “turn around, don’t drown.”
He said most flood‑related deaths occur when people attempt to drive a vehicle through high water and that it is impossible, especially at night, to judge the depth of the water from behind the wheel.
Matala said motorists must obey barricades, which are in place for both public safety and first responders’ safety, and that it is illegal to drive around a closed road. Walking through floodwater is dangerous as well because contaminants, chemicals or even missing manhole covers can turn shallow‑looking water into a hazard.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
Roadways can also wash out beneath the surface, he said.
“It only takes about 12 inches of water to move a small vehicle off the roadway,” Matala said. “And then it’s the same thing for a person: it only takes about six inches of water to knock an adult off their feet. Be safe.”
Staff Photographer Nick Graham contributed to this report.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
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