Ohio Floods

Figure 1. Vine Street in Cincinnati, during the Great Flood of 1913. (Ohio Historical Society).

Weather conditions can be dangerous at this time of year. Flooding can happen as late winter and early spring bring increased precipitation. Rain-on-snow events can be particularly devastating. Accumulated snow on the ground is like a bank of stormwater just waiting to be unleashed. Warm rain events will melt the accumulated snow and cause a large amount of water to run off the surface, especially if the ground is still frozen and water can’t soak in. With this sudden release of combined rainwater and snowmelt, you can expect certain areas to flood. Low-lying areas next to streams, storm sewers, and low spots in your yard can become inundated.

Ohio has a particularly fraught history of flooding. The Great Flood of 1913 caused widespread destruction and loss of life in the Miami Valley region. Around 428 people died, around 65,000 people were left homeless, and over 20,000 buildings and homes were destroyed. The Miami Conservancy District (MCD) was established after the flood, and they established the Flood Protection System. This system resulted in dams and levees being constructed along the Great Miami River. Flood plains adjacent to the Great Miami River were also placed into a conservation easement, keeping development outside of the flood plain to let the spongy floodplains do what they do best, store flood waters. Check out their website here for more history and the work they do with flood protection. The MCD also has a free, online flipbook of historic photos titled: “A Flood of Memories: Images from the 1913 Flood and Today.” which can be viewed here.

The flood of 1937, known as “Black Sunday”, saw the same amount of rain that fell during the 1913 Great Flood, with the rainfall spread out over twelve days rather than five. The MCD dams and levees that were built after the 1913 flood operated as designed, but there was still massive flooding in the Ohio River and Cincinnati was hit hard. PBS recounts the 1937 flood with a documentary which can be viewed here. This flood ravaged the city. Around 350 people died, and millions were left homeless in the tri-state area. After the rain fell, temperatures dropped, and six inches of snow fell. As the flooded city froze, frost-heaved gas pipes and soaked coal piles failed to provide much-needed heating to residents. This flood gained national attention which led to more flood control guidelines.

Figure 2. Cincinnati during the flood of 1937 (National Weather Service).

The Army Corps of Engineers eventually built flood-mitigating parks along the river front to help with flood control. Today, the stadiums and The Banks district along the riverfront are elevated above the 1937 flood line by sitting atop parking garages that act as sponges by storing water during floods.

Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides guidance on flooding. This past year, FEMA updated their flood maps as flood zones can change over time. They notified residents by mail if they were affected by this change. Check out this FEMA flood zone map to determine if you are in an area prone to flooding.
Even if you are just outside of a flood zone, it might be a good idea to purchase flood insurance, just in case. Meteorologists have recorded rainfall amounts since the 1800s in the U.S. and are reporting changes in rainfall patterns over the past few decades. Rain events are increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change. It is raining more often, and more rain is falling in a shorter amount of time, leading to flash flood type rain events. Areas that didn’t flood before might be prone to flooding now.

Are you in a flood zone and want to build a structure? You may need a flood permit to do that. Warren County SWCD houses the County's Floodplain Administrator. If you are considering a construction project (house, shed, barn, fence, septic, pool, or even a grading only project) and are unsure if you need a Flood Permit, please visit our website here to submit a Floodplain Determination Request Form. We can also help potential buyers if flood insurance will be required at a property that they are looking to purchase. 
With tax season upon us, I remember when Benjamin Franklin said: “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”. But maybe a third thing can be true, Ohio Floods. Driving conditions can be dangerous this time of year, with ice and flooding out there. Check out the National Weather Service Radar here so you can plan ahead and be prepared. When in doubt, turn around, don’t drown!

Article by Urban Specialist Justin Bedocs