High water risks ignored
By Sam Shawver, sshawver@mariettatimes.comArticle Photos
Fact Box
High water dangersMore than half of all flood related deaths result from vehicles being swept downstream by flood water. Many of these deaths could have been prevented had people simply followed the rule “turn around, don’t drown.”
¯ It takes only 2 feet of moving water to float most cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles.
¯ Nearly half of all flash flood fatalities are vehicle related.
¯ Each year, more deaths occur as a result of flooding than from lightning, tornadoes or hurricanes. The main reason for these deaths is people underestimate the force and power of water.
¯ Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.
Source: www.noaa.gov
The water was 2 feet deep in places, and covered about 100 yards of the roadway.
But Brewer figured the risk was worth it, even though another vehicle had become stranded in that same area just an hour before.
“I live about halfway between Whipple and Lower Salem, and if I can’t get through here I’d have to travel to Bonn and over gravel backroads through Stanleyville,” he said.
Washington County sheriff’s Deputy Bob Eddy watched Brewer ease his truck through the water.
“I’m not so concerned about a truck that size, but smaller vehicles won’t make it,” he said. “And if they attempt to cross and get stuck, they’re going to get a ticket.”
Eddy said drivers are often fooled by high water because the roadway ahead appears level, but there may be a dip in the road that is hidden below the water surface.
“Every year after hard rains, someone gets stuck in high water,” he said.
Brewer’s pickup made it through, as did several trucks and SUVs on Thursday afternoon, but Whipple-area resident Don Leasure wasn’t willing to take a chance with his van.
“I drove through here about 7:30 a.m. (Thursday). A lot of cars were coming through then, but the water was only about a foot deep at that time,” he said. “But now it’s up to the guardrails and looks about 2 feet deep.”
Leasure said he was surprised the creek was still rising since the last of this week’s heavy downpours had passed through the area about 12 hours before.
“I really thought it would have dropped by now,” he said before turning the van around and heading home via Highland Ridge Road and Lower Salem.
A parade of thunderstorms that moved through the area from Tuesday through early Thursday brought about 3 inches of rain into the Mid-Ohio Valley, causing flash flooding and filling area rivers to the brim.
Although sunshine dominated Thursday’s weather, some creeks continued to rise as they took on runoff from tributaries upstream.
Duck Creek was one of those streams, according to Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks, who reported 18 flooded area roadways remained under water late Thursday afternoon. Among the roads in the report were portions of Ohio 821, Washington County 333, Washington County 9 and Ohio 145 just north of Lower Salem.
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Parrothead
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06-07-08 9:40 AM
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I hate to say it surprised, but I probably am older than you. Chances of that increase a little everyday! Yet you do not have to be old to used fordings, there are actually some still in existance in Washington Co. They just are not on the highly traveled roads.
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surprised
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06-06-08 11:47 PM
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I'm sorry Parrothead but I don't remember crossing any fords when I was little. lol You must be a lot older than me!!
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surprised
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06-06-08 11:45 PM
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I don't think everyone should be ticketed for every little thing but the deputy was there siting or standing and saw the guy going around a high water sign and did nothing. He was already there!!! Don't worry I've had my little things I've been stopped for also (no blinker) maybe thats why I think he should have been charged but they probably knew each other and don't tell me that doesn't happen because it does!
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Darby1952
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06-06-08 9:12 PM
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everyone go look what alchemy posted in the hero laid to rest article,,, what a scum bag
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MT1234
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06-06-08 7:31 PM
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Why is it necessary to ticket or charge everyone who makes a mistake? The police have enough to do without wasting time writing citations for pedestrians crossing the street outside of a crosswalk, slowing down and rolling through a stop-street when there is no other car on the road, or driving through shallow water. Don't give me that bull that "it's the law"...you would be the first one screaming if you were ticketed for driving 36 in a 35 mph zone; after all that's the law too. It's time people are responsible for themselves without the government or the police trying to protect everyone from everything.
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Parrothead
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06-06-08 6:26 PM
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DO any of you remember when streams were regularly crossed by the means of a fording? When using one of these crossings water was constantly flowing over the fording as you drove though it to get to the other side. In fact they are still used in some places to this day. The point is that water can be crossed and driven through SAFELY! You just need to know the conditions, your vehicle and its capabilities and limitations. It is wrong to say that it is always unsafe and dangerous to drive through water just because you have heard someone say it on TV or read it in the paper or on the internet. To also speak something as the ultimate fact because of ones lack of knowledge or fear is ignorance.
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Indian
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06-06-08 6:10 PM
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Ignorance is bliss. There are many words one could here describing this type person. I choose to stay above name calling.
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surprised
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06-06-08 6:03 PM
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Maybe ignorance should be a ticketed offence! If he had gotten stuck who would have paid for getting him out? Also the deputy would have had to stay and watch or help when he could have been somewhere else. He should have been given a ticket! Can't imagine an officer just watching him do that, then if he had gotten hurt, well, why didn't the officer stop him. This world is crazy and some of you people are crazy also.
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Parrothead
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06-06-08 5:04 PM
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This is just one more example of people spouting off and telling others what to do when they know NOTHING about the subject being discussed! They are right to a point – driving into flowing or unknown flood waters can be dangerous, but the flood waters spoken of in this article are neither. This stretch of road is flat, it has guard rail on both sides and measuring sticks to let motorist know the depth of the water. It is back water and is not flowing at all. No chance for the surface to dip or be washed out, No chance for the vehicle to be washed away. The officer in this instance, and I can’t believe I am saying this, was correct in how he handled this situation. Those of you that think tickets were warranted had better thank your lucky stars that ignorance is not a ticketable offense.
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Angela415
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06-06-08 4:38 PM
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Mr. Wilson.... how dare you! Who are you to steriotype NASCAR fans! How ignorant on your part! Reallydisturbed.... yes you are, mentally disturbed, if you honestly believe that that was "a little water on the road". Please, get a grip! Send your family thru the next "little bit of water you see lying on the roadway", maybe the outcome will be different, then we will see what you have to say. Are you both as stupid as you sound? And lastly, the police officer that watched the person drive thru the high water should get a talking to from his supervisor, at the least, for "watching" and not doing anything to prevent the driver from proceding or ticketing him/her after the fact. How will drivers take the warnings of high water seriously if police just watch and not do anything about it? TURN AROUND....DON'T DROWNED
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BillMitchell1
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06-06-08 2:51 PM
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I have personally experienced having a large boat trailer that weighted as much as a small SUV float in 4 feet of water. If that water was flowing across a road, it would have been swept away. You must resist the temptation, it could cost lives.
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TXBuckeye
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06-06-08 2:43 PM
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Oh boy, two more examples in today's paper of why Ohio continues to sink deeper into the abyss. First, 60% of respondents think 7 days of paid sick time should be mandatory by law for employers with >25 employees. Try selling that to the local restaraunt with 50 high school and college students that would then get sick days. Second is comments like Finallap and MrWilson, where they think driving through water is grounds for more revenue to the county. The deputy had it right, ticket them only if they cause problems for others by getting stuck. What ever happened to the independent people of Ohio who just wanted to be left alone to be able to take care of themselves & their families??
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UncleGrunt
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06-06-08 12:16 PM
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Very dangerous. Not a good idea.
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MrWilson
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06-06-08 10:12 AM
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What a moron. I'll bet he had a cut-off shirt on with a NASCAR hat on top of his head. Finallap is right...people have no idea how dangerous this is. He should have been ticketed right on the spot.
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Finallap
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06-06-08 9:40 AM
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They should get a ticket if they get stuck or not...People just dont know how dangerous this is..You have no idea if part of the road has been washed away or not...Maybe the next time he wont be so lucky
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