Two women were rescued and at least five people are missing from a homeless encampment near Blacklick Creek after heavy flooding Aug. 20 caused by overnight heavy rains, according to the Columbus Division of Fire.
At around 11:30 a.m., Columbus fire received reports of several people missing from a homeless camp located in the 3600 block of Gender Road, near Blacklick Creek and Abbie Trails Drive, according to Columbus fire Lt. Nick Davis. Firefighters were the first to arrive on scene and rescued two women who were stuck in deep water under a bridge, Davis said.
The women told firefighters that at least five other people are still missing, Davis said. Firefighters are still at the scene of the homeless encampment providing support to the Columbus
Division of Police, who now have control over the scene, Davis said. The conditions of the two women were not immediately available, Davis said.
Columbus fire performed at least eight water rescues from 4:30 to 8 a.m., Aug. 20, Battalion Chief Brian Barnhart said. Most of the rescues were people who became stuck in their cars after trying to drive on flooded roads. At 8 a.m., the fire division was still dispatching crews on new water rescues.
Most of the rescues were in southeast Columbus, Barnhart said. Several were on Jackson Pike between Dyer Road and Frank Road. He urged motorists not to drive through flooded areas.
Parts of central Ohio, including eastern Franklin County, southern Delaware County, northwestern Fairfield County and southwestern Licking County are under a flood warning until 6:30 p.m. Overnight heavy rains have caused extensive flooding throughout the Columbus area and parts of central Ohio.On the morning of Aug. 20, Columbus activated the Franklinton floodwalldue to more than 3 inches of early morning rainfall.
Pataskala and Reynoldsburg have both been hit particularly hard, with Reynoldsburg issuing a shelter-in-place order to residents that was later lifted at 12:20 p.m. In Pataskala, stranded motorists had to be rescued after trying to drive through floodwaters at around 5 a.m.
This is a breaking news story. Check back at Dispatch.com for more updates.
Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 2 women rescued from water after flooding of homeless camp in Blacklick
