Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Flooding Emergency Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Clermont County EMA warns of Ohio River road closures, says property impacts unlikely unless river rises further
Summary
The county Emergency Management Agency reported Feb. 19 that the Ohio River was above flood stage at local gauges, listed current road closures and said property impacts were unlikely unless the river rises to about 57.3 feet; countywide EOC activation would start at 58 feet.
BATAVIA, Ohio — Pam Haberkost, director of the Clermont County Emergency Management Agency, told the Board of Clermont County Commissioners on Feb. 19 that the Ohio River was above local flood thresholds and that several road closures were in effect but that property impacts were unlikely at current river levels.
"As of 9 a.m. this morning, the Ohio River was at 55.3 feet at the Cincinnati gauge and 52.65 feet at the Bristow gauge," Haberkost said. She told commissioners that several county roads had closed as the river rose, including Steamboat Drive in Pierce Township (closure begins at about 52 feet); sections of Old U.S. 52 between address numbers 468 and 504; Old U.S. 52 east of Pond Run (closed at about 54.6 feet); Locust Corner at 9 Mile (about 54.5 feet); and Fagin's Run Road near State Route 132 in Ohio Township (closed at about 54.68 feet; Haberkost said there was about an inch of water on the bridge).
Haberkost said the county coordinates with the Ohio Department of Transportation, the county engineer and local jurisdictions to track closures and that the county publishes updates on the county engineer's road-closure page (clermontengineer.org/construction/road-closures) and on the county's interactive map (maps.clermontcountyohio.gov/apps/road-closure-detour). She said the county is tracking closures and reopenings and maintaining historical records to improve future planning.
Haberkost said the county typically expects property impacts at roughly 57.32 feet on the Cincinnati gauge and that a countywide emergency operations center (EOC) would be considered if the river reaches about 58 feet. "We are just in the information-sharing phase right now," she said.
Haberkost urged residents to avoid driving around road-closure signs, to avoid playing or walking near high water, and to review household evacuation plans if they live in flood-prone areas. She said the county had reviewed flood preparedness plans with partners since January and would continue to share road-closure and safety information through the county's public-information office and social media accounts.
The update was delivered during the county staff discussion portion of the commissioners' meeting and did not include a request for new funding or a formal emergency declaration.
