Extreme Flooding

CROOKSVILLE, Ohio – Recent thunderstorms have swollen area creeks to historic levels.

The Village of Crooksville sits along Moxahala Creek and is a gritty little community that is no stranger to adversity. As flood waters rage, the village fire station is being utilized as the command center for rescue crews arriving from across the state. 

“Crews have been on scene here since about 12-to-1 o’clock this morning. So we’re actually rotating some shifts out right now. They are sending crews out to do some water rescues, multiple locations right now and also going door-to-door in some places to check on people who haven’t been able to get out of the water. So that’s going on right now. Currently we have dozens of departments here from multiple counties assisting here with the response. So we just ask everybody to be respectful of the responders,” Perry County Health Department Public Information Officer Cary Bowers said.

Bowers advised residents to avoid electrical boxes, any kind of downed utility lines and standing water. He noted that the water is probably contaminated and to report any natural gas smells to 911 immediately.  

“This has got to be up there pretty close to one of the worst ones. Hearing a lot of rumblings from crews here that they’ve seen water in places they’ve never seen it before. So if it’s not the worst, it’s pretty close. There’s shelters (that) are available. There’s a shelter in New Lexington at the Perry County Fairgrounds on State Route 37. There is a shelter at the Crooksville Schools on State Route 93, here in Crooksville. And then the Corning Monroe Civic Center in Corning, Ohio is another shelter. So if you are displaced, or need somewhere to go, without power, please report to one of those shelters,” Bowers said.

Rescue operations are still underway and Bowers estimated around 50-to-60 rescues took place before Noon, while hundreds of other residents have been evacuated. As of this newscast, no fatalities have been reported.