Washington County braces for flooding
Photo by Janelle Patterson Kira, left, and Maya Farley unload sand bags to protect their uncle’s condominium in Marietta Friday as the Ohio River rises.
Photo by Janelle Patterson The Ohio River rises above the River Trail before passing beneath the Williamstown Bridge Friday.
Photo by Janelle Patterson Kira, left, and Maya Farley unload sand bags to protect their uncle’s condominium in Marietta Friday as the Ohio River rises.
Photo by Janelle Patterson The Ohio River rises above the River Trail before passing beneath the Williamstown Bridge Friday.
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MARIETTA -- As the waters of both the Ohio and Muskingum rivers rose Friday residents across Washington County got busy making preparations.
The Ohio River was predicted by the National Weather Service to crest at 38.6 feet Sunday at 1 p.m., placing the river 3.6 feet above the flood stage and into what the service designates as a moderate flood.
"When the Ohio is at 38 feet that would put (the Muskingum) halfway up the bay doors," noted Marietta College Men's Crew Coach Phil Schmehl as men from his team were loading shells on a trailer under the direction of their coxswain, Chrissy Billingsley, of Marietta. "We already have 10 pairs in the cemetery because they can't fit on the trailer, then we have five eights and seven fours to put on the trailer."
The Muskingum River is considered at flood stage at 11 feet in McConnelsville, and was predicted to crest at 1 a.m. Saturday at 11.16 feet.
But the Muskingum waters rose quickly enough Friday to cause concern for both the college and high school crew coaches, with one noting that between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. the college dock was level with the top of the bank, having risen more than 14 inches.
Schmehl said he wouldn't be surprised if Gilman Avenue on the west side is underwater this weekend.
"I don't know yet where we'll take the trailer," he said. "Higher ground is my best answer."
Next door at the high school boathouse, Coach Joe Tewkesbury said this year has just had one kick after another for the team.
"We can't seem to have anything go our way this spring," he added, noting the floats for new docks to replace the ones lost in the freeze of January had just arrived Thursday. "But this isn't the first flood to come in our doors. A crest of 38 feet puts it about doorknob height. We'll cut the breakers upstairs and just clean it out when it recedes."
Down by the Ohio River levee Charla Hall, of Whipple, and her parents and stepdaughters were unloading sandbags at her brother's business, Hall Financial, and his condominium by the river.
"My brother is in Columbus for a business trip so we came down to shore things up," she explained, noting an overnight shipment of waders on its way and listing off the items needing moved and photographed prior to higher waters. "We'll take pictures of each room downstairs for insurance and get food for him for when he comes back in. Then we just wait it out."
Meanwhile, Bill White, CEO of Offenberger and White, a design and marketing firm that sits facing the Muskingum River just south of the Putnam Bridge on the Harmar side, took to social media to remind those worried about the rising current that Marietta has weathered many floods in the past.
"What is unique about Marietta is that we're mentally configured to confront high water head-on, move out of the way, chill out for a couple of days, watch the water level fall and clean up the mess," he said. "My investment in our office at 521 Fort St. in Historic Harmar Village was not without risk. I pay flood insurance but have never filed a claim. I understood then and now that the rivers give us priceless beauty and presence that reaches through ancient history to define what makes our town special."
Other businesses, like Bridgeport Equipment, called in extra hands to move trailers, all-terrain vehicles, tractors and farming equipment to higher ground in a caravan that kept the stoplight on Acme busy for hours.
"And I know Charlie (Clay, owner of Dad's Primitive Workbench) has already moved his inventory out of where water could get in," said Hall of the Front Street business. "We worry and wait, and hope it doesn't get too high."