Officials say intense storm overwhelmed drains; city outlines sewer upgrades after neighborhoods flooded

City officials told Canal Winchester city council on Aug. 4 that a severe short-duration storm overwhelmed local storm drains, producing widespread street and basement flooding across multiple neighborhoods and prompting infrastructure work and resident outreach. City Administrator Matt Peoples described what staff said was "4.1 inches of rain in 90 minutes," a pulse of runoff that staff characterized as equivalent to a 300- to 500-year event and far beyond normal drainage capacity. The storm led to flooding on Sailor Court, Mound Street, Trine Street, Hockett, Jennings, Kramer, Williamson Lane, Groveport Road and sections of Lithopolis-Winchester Road, staff said. Social-media photos and videos shown to council captured cars, yards and basements inundated. Residents speaking in public comment detailed repeated problems in a named neighborhood.…