Flash Flooding and Flood in Ohio, September 8 to 9, 2004

Heavy rains associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Frances caused widespread urban and lowland flooding in Mahoning County. Between two and three inches of rain fell on much of the county by late evening. Dozens of roads in the county had to be closed because of flooding. Hundreds of homes in the county experienced basement or nuisance flooding. Flood waters in some areas were reported to be as much as two feet deep.

Heavy rains associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Frances caused extensive flooding in Trumbull County. The worst flooding was reported in the eastern and central sections of the of the county where up to four inches of rainfall had fallen by late evening on September 8th. The rains continued into the 9th with another two to four inches reported in some areas before the rain finally ended around daybreak. Rainfall totals from the event included: 3.36 inches at Mosquito Creek State Park; 3.60 inches at Newton Falls; 3.85 inches in Leavittsburg; 4.45 inches at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Vienna Township and 9.40 inches at Brookfield. The Cortland area was especially hard hit by flooding. Between 20 and 30 families had to be evacuated from their homes around 2:30 a.m. after flood waters from Walnut Run rose to nearly four feet in depth in their neighborhood. A total of 118 homes were damaged by flooding in Cortland. Several roads and culverts were also washed out in the area. Flood waters along Tournament Trail and Old Oak Drive exceeded the 100 year flood plain. Brookfield Township was also hard hit as several small streams went into flood washing out a couple roads and forcing the closure of several more. To the south, Little Yankee Creek and Mud Run Creek went into flood in Hubbard damaging many homes and businesses along Main Street. Many other roads were washed out or damaged elsewhere in the county. A total of 309 homes were directly damaged by flash flooding in Trumbull County. Hundreds of additional homes and businesses experienced basement or nuisance flooding.

For the second time in less than two weeks, heavy rains caused significant flooding in the southeastern corner of Stark County. Rain associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Frances began early on September 8th and increased in intensity during the evening hours. The rain continued into the early morning hours of the 9th and finally ended an hour or two before daybreak. Storm total rainfall amounts included: 2.08 inches at North Lawrence, 2.32 inches at Genoa and 3.08 inches at Alliance. Similar to the August 28th flash flood event, heavy rains over Columbia County contributed to the severity of the flooding. Up to 9 inches of rain was reported over the headwaters of Sandy Creek in Columbia County. The creek rapidly rose during the late evening hours of the 8th and early morning of the 9th. Over 60 homes and business were heavily damaged in Minerva after the creek left it's banks. A couple dozen people had to be rescued or evacuated from their homes. The water treatment plant in Minerva sustained over $100,000 in damages. Many roads in the southeast corner of the county were washed out or had to be closed because of flooding. Dozens of additional homes sustained damage from basement or nuisance flooding.

Heavy rains associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Frances caused flooding over portions of Mahoning County. Most of the flooding occurred in the eastern half of the county where rainfall totals were the greatest. The rain began early on the 8th and increased in intensity during the evening hours. The heavy rain continued into the 9th and finally ended just before daybreak. Rainfall totals from the event included: 3.56 inches at Sebring; 3.88 inches at Youngstown; 5.5 inches at Poland; 7.0 inches at Canfield and 9.25 inches near Poland. The Poland area was especially hard hit by flooding. A branch of Yellow Creek left it's banks and flooded much of the Cobbler's Run Subdivision along Dobbins Road. Several families had to be evacuated and at least two homes were destroyed when their basement walls collapsed. A library in Poland was also damaged. Extensive street and nuisance flooding was reported in both Beaver and Springfield Townships and also in Campbell and Boardman. Flood waters on some roads were reported to be as much as three feet deep. Occupants of three vehicles had to be rescued from their stranded cars. Two roads were washed out in the southeastern corner of the county. Hundreds of homes in Mahoning County were damaged, mainly by basement and nuisance flooding.

Heavy rains associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Frances caused flooding over portions of Ashtabula County. Rain began early on September 8th and increased in intensity during the evening hours. The heavy rain continued into the 9th and finally ended just before daybreak. Rainfall totals from the event included: 2.08 inches at Ashtabula; 2.42 inches at Geneva; 2.88 inches at Jefferson; 3.00 inches at New Lyme; 3.68 inches at Conneaut and 4.66 inches at Pierpont. Significant flooding occurred along Conneaut Creek in the northeastern corner of the county. Very heavy rain fell over the headwaters of the creek in Pennsylvania and caused a rapid rise in creek levels beginning around midnight. By 12:24 a.m., a campground along Creek Road in Kingsville Township was under as much as five feet of water. 17 campers at the campground barely escaped the rapidly rising waters and had to be rescued by boat. Several roads near the creek were washed out by the flood waters. Many other roads, including State Route 7 had to be closed because of flooding. Over a dozen vehicles were damaged at an automobile dealership by flood waters up to four feet deep. Hundreds of homes and businesses were damaged by flooding. Several of these sustained significant damage.