Licking County officials watching rivers, roads for flooding as more rainy weather forecast

NEWARK − Minor flooding was evident mid-Tuesday in most areas of Licking County, with concerns about more rains forecast coming into the area.

Crews were installing flood gates on South Second Street over the Licking River in Newark. The road was closed about 3 p.m. The river was at 17.5 feet. If the river rises to 19 feet, crews would also install gates on National Drive.

As of late Tuesday afternoon, eight county roads were closed and high water reported on 14 others, County Engineer Jared Knerr said. A flood watch remained in effect until 11 p.m.

The Newark Division of Police also asked that residents of Canterbury Trailer Park (Licking View Drive) and Little Texas voluntarily evacuate due to rising waters.

Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb said late Tuesday morning that "the rivers are close to running full."

Flood warnings were issued for Licking County, including two sections of the North Fork Licking River near downtown Newark, according to the Licking County Emergency Management Agency.

Johnstown Police Chief Rusty Smart said East Pratt Street, between Track and Yardner streets, was flooded and closed until the water drains off. Outside of Johnstown city limits, Mink, Nichols and Green Chapel roads were all flooded.

Johnstown canceled its Tuesday night City Council meeting due to "the high risk of severe weather" and rescheduled it for 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Licking County EMA Director Sean Grady said the ground is saturated and the rivers are rising and lowering fairly quickly.

“We haven’t seen significant flooding yet," Grady said. "We’ve seen flooding. There’s been enough time between storms the river can empty itself out.”

The county road closures included Brushy Fork and Gratiot roads in the southeast and Pinewood Trail in the northeast. The northwest part of the county had Bennington Chapel and Clover Valley roads closed. Also, Raccoon Valley Road in the west central was closed.

Grady said Ridgely Tract near Ohio 79 and Jersey Mill were two other roads reported closed to Licking County 911 Center.

High water was reported on the following: Rainrock, Hickman, Martinsburg, Loches, York, Wilkins Run, Mill Dam, Watkins, Blacks, Morse, Price, Swans and Foxchase roads and Mink Street.

"My gut says the storm overnight and (Tuesday) morning was probably a 10-year storm," Knerr said.

Knerr said the storm in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, was a 50-year storm. Days after the novel coronavirus was declared a pandemic, Licking County was hit with flash flooding on the same day of its first confirmed COVID case. Emergency officials rescued Newark and Heath residents from homes, apartments and trailers.

kmallett@newarkadvocate.com

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Twitter: @kmallett1958

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking County officials watch for flooding; more rain forecast