Monday, February 21, 2000
Licking recedes at Falmouth, but the Ohio's still rising
Flooding minor compared to '97
BY KRISTINA GOETZ
and SARA J. BENNETT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A motorist passes a gushing storm drain on Lumsden Street near Lunken Airport Sunday.
(Saed Hindash photo)
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Fewer than 48 hours after the Licking River began to flood their community, Falmouth residents began hauling furniture back home Sunday.
The river barely left its banks and receded quickly.
It was a relief after the disaster of 1997.
“I'm glad it's over so I can go home and rest,” said Craig Peoples, disaster and emergency services coordinator for Pendleton County.
By Sunday morning the river was at 32 feet and dropping. The National Weather Service had expected waters to reach 41 feet — 13 feet above flood stage — by 7 p.m. Saturday. Instead, the river crested at 10 a.m. Saturday at 36.6 feet.
The emergency operations center at the Falmouth police station closed by noon Sunday, and the National Guard packed up and went home.
In Cincinnati, the Ohio River reached flood stage of 52 feet by 2 p.m. Sunday. By 7 p.m, it had climbed to 52.8 feet, where it is expected to hover before it crests near 53 feet around 7 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Ohio River Forecast Center.
Several spots will be affected if that happens, said Shannon White, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The access road at Covington Landing will flood. Flooding also will start on Riverside Drive in Covington.
Golf courses, restaurants and other businesses along the river felt the effects of the weekend's high water.
The Little Miami Golf Center in Anderson Township was closed Friday and Saturday and may be closed today, said Doug Ledford, assistant golf pro.
Hooters on Newport's Riverboat Row has been closed since Saturday and probably will remain closed until after the river crests, supervisor Todd Riek said.
“Being closed Saturday, and then on a big sports day Sunday, we certainly lost out on considerable sales,” he said. “Yet we've been very lucky in that we haven't had to close due to the river for the past two years.”
Significant rain isn't expected to return to the Tristate until Wednesday, according to Accuweather. Mostly sunny skies are expected today, with a high of about 50. A light rain could fall tonight. Tuesday will be partly sunny with temperatures in the low 60s.
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