MCARTHUR, Ohio — Vinton County officials are thanking a coalition of fire departments, water rescue teams and emergency responders who spent days battling flash flooding that swamped roads and waterways across the county.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for northeastern Vinton County, along with parts of Athens and Meigs counties, effective the evening of Sept. 20 into the early morning of Sept. 21. The agency reported that between 2.5 and 3.5 inches of rain had already fallen in the area, with as much as 3 additional inches possible, and warned of flooding along small creeks and streams as well as urban areas, highways, streets, underpasses and other low-lying areas. The warning named McArthur, Albany, Zaleski, Carpenter, Radcliffe and Creola as communities expected to see flash flooding.
In the days that followed, the Region 7 Water Rescue team — including the Wellston Fire Department and the Chillicothe VA Medical Center Fire Department — worked alongside local crews to respond to the rising water, according to the Vinton County Emergency Management Agency. Vinton County fire departments in Hamden, McArthur, Harrison, Zaleski and Wilkesville also assisted, along with the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office and Vinton County EMS.
“Your courage, teamwork, and commitment to the people of Vinton County do not go unnoticed,” the EMA said in a Facebook post thanking the responders. “We are truly grateful for each of you.”
The flooding in Vinton County followed weeks of heavy rain across southern Ohio that has prompted a state of emergency declaration in Ross County and multiple water rescues in Pike and Highland counties this month.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Vinton County Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service.
