Predicted Flood Waters Wreak Havoc on Southeast and Mid-Atlantic
May 4, 2011 | Environment, Travel
As forecasters predicted, the severe weather front on Monday brought high winds, lightning, hail, flooding and a few tornadoes to the Southeast and mid-Atlantic.
On Tuesday, flood waters spilled over into communities across Illinois, Indiana and Ohio by rivers and streams swollen by rain and melting snow, killing one woman whose vehicle was swept into a river. According to authorities, 4 deaths in Tennessee were also attributed to the Flash floods in the mountainous eastern region of that state.
The strong storms with high winds and up to five inches of rain began on Sunday, overflowing rivers and creeks across northern Illinois, Indiana and Ohio which in turn flooded roads, golf courses, farmland and some homes. The National Weather Service issued dozens of flood warnings, noting some rivers had yet to crest.
Tamara McBride of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency reported 700 people were evacuated from their homes across northern Ohio. A 51-year-old woman died while traveling near Norwalk when flood waters from a tributary swept her vehicle off the road and into the overflowing Huron River, McBride said.
In and around Findlay, Ohio, dozens of people had to be rescued as flood waters from the cresting Blanchard River invaded residential neighborhoods and parts of downtown.
Jeremy Heidt of Tennessee’s emergency management agency said the 4 deaths in that state included two victims who died when trees fell on their trailer homes, a worker who was sucked into a culvert, and a motorist who crashed on a water-covered road.
This article was written by: Brenda Mallard
