Flooding from heavy rains closes roads around Mid-Ohio Valley | News, Sports, Jobs

Parkersburg City employees install the gate at the main entrance to Point Park at the flood wall in preparation for the crest of the Ohio River. The National Weather Service said the Ohio River would crest 34.4 feet at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Marietta Pump House, and at Parkersburg Point Park at 35.2 feet, at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Flood stage is 36 feet. (Photo by Art Smith)

PARKERSBURG — Heavy rains caused flooding in areas in the Mid-Ohio Valley region Friday, causing many roads to be flooded and making driving hazardous, and high winds also caused power outages throughout the area.

There was a flood warning in effect until Saturday afternoon for the following Ohio counties: Athens, Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Morgan, Perry, Vinton and Washington.

According to the National Weather Service in Charleston, the Ohio River will crest at the Marietta Pump House at 34.4 feet at 1 p.m. Saturday. The action level at the point is 33 feet with minor flooding expected at 35 feet.

At Point Park in Parkersburg, the crest level is forecast at 35.2 feet at 7 p.m. Saturday. The action level is 34 feet and minor flooding can occur at 35.2 feet.

Ashley Rittenhouse, the Public Information Officer for the Ohio Department of Transportation District 10, said, “We’ve got flooding all over our district. Our crews are out monitoring for high water. They are putting up barricades where needed. And the biggest thing we need is for drivers to not go around those barricades.”

The gazebo in Point Park was surrounded by water Friday afternoon as the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers continued to rise. (Photo by Art Smith)

Roads that were closed Friday included: State Road 376, northbound to SR 266 to Taylor Drive; SR 376 Southbound beyond Rock Hollow to North First Street; SR 595 Northbound near Windsor; SR 145 Northbound beyond Thompson Street to Schott Hollow Road; SR 145 Southbound beyond Schott Hollow Road to Thompson Street; SR 329 Southbound at SR 13 to SR 550; SR 329 Northbound at SR 550 to Lake Drive; SR 13 Southbound at SR 78 to SR 685; SR 26 Northbound beyond Griffin Hill Road to SR 800; SR 26 Southbound at SR 800 to Griffin Hill Road;

In addition, Fort Frye Local Schools dismissed students two hours early Friday due to high water.

Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard said there was no flooding in the area.

High winds also caused power outages in the Mid-Ohio Valley region.

Counties affected in West Virginia included: Calhoun – 374 affected of 4,496 – 8.32 percent; Doddridge – 115 of 3,614 – 3.18 percent; Jackson – 32 of 2,207 – 1.45 percent; Pleasants – 194 of 4,034 – 4.81 percent; Ritchie – 38 of 6,547 – less than 1 percent; Roane – 29 of 6,464 – less than 1 percent; Tyler – 80 of 5,714 – 1.39 percent; Wetzel – 113 of 7,388 – 1.53 percent; Wirt – fewer than 5 of 3,981 – less than 1 percent; and Wood – 23 of 45,701 – less than 1 percent.

Parkersburg City employees install the gate at the main entrance to Point Park at the flood wall in preparation for the crest of the Ohio River. The National Weather Service said the Ohio River would crest 34.4 feet at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Marietta Pump House, and at Parkersburg Point Park at 35.2 feet, at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Flood stage is 36 feet. (Photo by Art Smith)

All counties are serviced by MonPower, and the estimated date and time of restoration in all cases was Sunday at 2 p.m.

Counties in Ohio that were affected are, according to the Poweroutages.us website as of Friday, at 3:12 p.m., included: Washington – 240 affected of 32,885 – 0.73 percent; American Electric Power Ohio – 162 of 27,951; South Central Power – 0 of 0; Washington Electric – 78 of 4,934

Morgan – 316 affected of 9,650 – 3.27 percent; American Electric Power Ohio – 316 of 8,159; Guernsey-Muskingum Electric – 0 of 1,305; South Central Power – 0 of 0; Washington Electric – 0 of 186

According to the Poweroutages.us website, there were no estimates on how soon power would be restored.

Larry Launstein Jr. may be reached at [email protected].