The rain came suddenly and fiercely in Lorain and other counties. The flash floods overwhelmed storm drains and flooded streets, parking lots and basements.
This is one of the worst that I’ve seen in 12 years of being mayor," said North Ridgeville Mayor David Gillock. "The amount of water – it was coming straight down, and it just overwhelmed the system."
Gillock said last night, crews rescued people by boat through second-story windows, and motorists got stranded when they tried to drive through water. But he says all city streets are now open.
The entire North Ridgeville school district was closed today due to flooding.
Shandra DeVoe is deputy director of Medina County’s Emergency Management Agency. She says she’s heard of about 40 homes with significant flood damage.
"Anywhere from three to four feet in their basements, those that have basements. Others, they’re reporting six to eight inches of water on their first floor," she said.
DeVoe said some streets are still flooded, and local officials are working to get a state disaster declaration, which would help get assistance to homeowners.
The state Transportation Department said the few roads still closed should reopen soon. But part of State Route 162 in Medina County may be closed for up to a month as a culvert is replaced.
The National Weather Service said another two to three inches of rain may fall between tonight and Thursday.