Recent Rains Cause Flooded Roadways

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – This week’s excessive rainfall has caused many streams and rivers to swell above flood stage and submerge low-lying roadways.

Muskingum County Emergency Management Agency Director Jeff Jadwin explained how flood control reservoirs such as Dillon and Wills Creek are filling fast and flooding roadways that are further upstream. 

“A lot of the small stream flooding that is taking place around the county and along the Muskingum River has come down some,” Jadwin said. “Right now Dillon is holding back and Wills Creek is holding back as well, as much as they can. But their water levels are way above their action levels. We’re actually within seven or eight feet of State Route 146 West, having water on top of it.”

Many roads upstream of the dams are already impassable due to the backwaters and have been closed. 

The force and depths involved in swift currents of water across roadways can be deceptively hidden and could not only sweep a vehicle away but also the roadway under the surface.

“And we need to stress to the public; if you come to a road that has a sign that says High Water, treat that as a road closed,” Jadwin said. “Do not drive into the high water. There were rescues again last night from high water and Guernsey (County) had a gentleman that’s car was completely submerged. That ended up unfortunately passing away.”

Jadwin also revealed that both the Ohio Department of Transportation and the county engineer’s office have reported that multiple High Water signs have been stolen from various locations across the county.