Muskingum County EMA Urges Preparedness

ZANESVILLE, OH – With the threat of severe weather and rain in our forecast, the Muskingum County Emergency Management Agency wants to make sure you are prepared.

EMA Director Jeff Jadwin said as more rain moves into our area it will cause rivers and streams to rise even more than they already are.

“The ground is so soaked at this point so people need to watch the water levels near where they are at,” Jadwin said. “It’s already high, some of the smaller streams have gone down but the Licking River and the Muskingum River are maxed out right now.”

Jadwin recommends having a go bag ready incase of any weather emergency. The bag should contain items like a flashlight, clothes, cash, water, canned food, and any necessary medications.

Jadwin also said if you come across water in the roadway and there is not a high water sign, do not try to drive through it.

“You don’t know if the [roadway] is not washed out, part of the roadway could be washed out by a culvert and people say ‘I can see the centerline, so I’m going to drive through this,’” Jadwin said. “But there’s no guarantee that the underneath part of the roads not washed away. If there’s a highwater sign, treat the high water sign the same as you would a road closed sign. It’s against the law to go around them.”

Jadwin said the best way to stay in the know when it comes to severe weather in our area is to sign up for the Muskingum County Citizens Alert. He said once you’re signed up you can choose to receive alerts during the day or during the night.