Flash flooding impacted both Ross and Pike counties the evening of Sept. 12 due to excessive rainfall after the National Weather Service issued a flood watch for several Ohio counties.
The National Weather Service issued extended flash flood warnings for the counties overnight that expired the morning of Sept. 13.
Water moved fast in Pike County
In Pike County, flood waters swept one elderly couple’s mobile home off of its foundation in the 15000 block of U.S. 23, according to a Facebook post by the Piketon Seal Township Fire Department. The Waverly Fire Department completed a water rescue with assistance from Piketon Seal Township Fire Department Special Operations.
Pike County EMA Director Tim Dickerson said there were no casualties or residents unaccounted for to his knowledge.
Most, if not all, of the roads closed due to flooding in the area overnight had reopened by 9:30 a.m. Sept. 13, he said. Dickerson also reported there were no casualties or residents unaccounted for to his knowledge at the time of speaking to The Dispatch. However, he still advised motorists to exercise caution on the roadways.
“Don't drive or walk through this water; it's swift, and it's dangerous. That's why I say that depth can be really deceiving. You may think it's shallow, and it's not.”
As of 9:30 a.m. Sept. 13, Dickerson said damage assessments for the overnight flooding were still ongoing.
Ross County experiences water rescues
There were multiple reports of water rescues by the Chillicothe VA fire department in addition to emergency crews and volunteer fire departments the evening of Sept. 12, according to reporting by the Scioto Valley Guardian. Multiple mobile homes were swept off of their foundations in Ross County, according to the Guardian. Officials have not confirmed any casualties or residents unaccounted for due to the overnight floods with the Columbus Dispatch as of 10 a.m. Sept. 13.
The American Red Cross opened an evacuation center for Ross County residents displaced by flooding at 1565 Egypt Pike, Chillicothe, according to a Facebook post from the Ross County Health District's Facebook page at approximately 11 p.m. Sept. 12.
Reporter Kelly Tucker can be reached at ktucker@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ross and Pike counties hit by flash flooding, water rescues reported
