Flash flooding in May was unexpected

FINDLAY — Flash flooding can be dangerous and destructive, but there are steps property owners can take to hopefully stay a little drier. Heavy rainfall on the morning of May 15 led to flash flooding throughout Findlay. A total of 2.11 inches of rain was recorded by the National Weather Service at the Findlay Airport, 1615 Gray St., but that wasn't the worst of it. "They were pretty unexpected. The National Weather Service had not predicted any significant rainfall. The storm stalled and really dumped on us with the south side receiving just about 1.5 inches in one hour and the north side receiving closer to 4 inches in an hour," said Muryn. "There is no way to build a storm sewer system that can contain that capacity. With this, we saw flooding in unexpected areas and relatively random properties." Muryn said the city worked with property owners who reported problems. "Any property owners who contacted the city, we tried to look at their individual situation. For example, one property owner whose basement flooded, we discovered it was an issue with their system and were able to connect the tenant and property owner to local resources for emergency assistance and contractors for repairs," said Muryn. "In other situations, there was nothing that could be done except for insurance claims by the homeowner. I understand it is very upsetting, but there is very little we can do." The city of Findlay is advising residents to keep debris cleared from storm drains and ensure sump pumps have alarms and battery backup. Do not run gutters into footer drains. Residents who notice slow storm drains should report them to the city. Problems can be reported through the city's website at www.findlayohio.gov. In the event of significant flooding, call 911. "Flash flooding events are extremely tricky because each storm is different. We continue to televise our system and make repairs as they are identified," said Muryn. Flash flooding can be particularly dangerous for Findlay. The flood of August 2007, one of the worst in the city's history, followed a day of heavy flash flooding throughout the region. Remnants of Hurricane Erin brought heavy rainfall, as much as 8 to 10 inches in some areas in a single day. There was no major river flooding associated with the May storm. The outlook for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially begins on Sunday and runs through Nov. 30, is for an above-normal season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Since 2007, local flood mitigation efforts have cleared several structures from Findlay's floodway and benched a long stretch of the Blanchard River to increase its capacity. The $6.1 million project cut benches into the north riverbank for about 3,500 feet between the Norfolk Southern railroad bridge and Broad Avenue. A second round of benching is planned to be built along the north side of the river, from the Main Street bridge to the Dr. Martin Luther King Parkway overpass at East Main Cross Street. The cost is also expected to be about $6 million. So far, there has been no true test of the mitigation's ability to keep the Blanchard River within its banks during a major flood. "We have not had a storm event that exceeded major flood stage since 2017, which preceded the start of construction on the original benching project. Anecdotal evidence from property owners who have had flooding problems in the past suggests they have seen a noticeable improvement," said Steve Wilson, flood mitigation project manager for both the Hancock County Board of Commissioners and the Maumee Watershed Conservancy District, Defiance. On July 13, 2017, heavy rains associated with strong thunderstorms moved through Northwest Ohio. The National Weather Service measured 3.39 inches of rain in less than four hours at Findlay Airport, with nearly all of it falling between 3 and 5 a.m. The Blanchard River crested at 16.5 feet or 5.5 feet above flood level by midday on July 14. "Any waterway is subject to flash flooding," said Wilson. "Specifically referring to Howard Run, the city of Findlay petitioned the county commissioners to make improvements to that waterway. The project has been bid, but I have not heard a potential start date for the work. Hancock County's engineer is administering that project." He said increasing the storage capacity of the existing floodplain is part of the answer to the threats posed by flash flooding.