‘Here I Am Again’: Wheeling Island Residents Get Case of Flooding Deja Vu
Trending
WHEELING - Rain-weary residents of Wheeling Island barely had time to let their basements dry out from the April 4 flood when just a week later, the Ohio River began to swell to threatening levels once again.
On Friday afternoon, the National Weather Service predicted that the river would crest just below the moderate flood stage level in Wheeling, which is listed at 40 feet. Last week, the river crested at 41.49 feet in Wheeling, according to the observations courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey - just below the 42-feet major flood threshold.
"We had about six feet of water in the basement," said Rick Breiding, standing in the rain outside of his mother’s house on Indiana Street on the north end of Wheeling Island on Friday afternoon. "Everything was out of the basement. I had to clean everything out. It covered the side fence completely on the Erie Street side. I cleaned, scrubbed and put everything in on Monday - and here I am again."
Last week’s flood was the worst Island residents had seen in almost 20 years. Many veteran "Island Rats" roll with the punches when the Ohio River brings significant flooding once every decade or two. But getting hit two weeks in a row with barely a break at all can take its toll.
"We’ve had our fair share," Breiding said. "I can’t recall how quick it came back up to this level - to this magnitude - with Mother Nature bringing it right back up again so soon. I’ve never seen anything within a week."
Once again, residents of low-lying areas of Wheeling Island were scrambling to disconnect their hot water tanks, remove the blower motors from their furnaces, bring up valuables and appliances like washers and dryers to their first floor, their yard or porch - anywhere they can that is above the predicted crest level - on Friday. This time, the call to action came as rain continued to fall, along with the temperatures.
Like other Wheeling Island residents, the Breidings had to bring their hot water tank, appliances and other contents of the basement to higher ground - in this case their front porch - in preparation for the next round of flooding from the Ohio River. (Photo by Eric Ayres)
"I started at 11 a.m.," Breiding said. "Everything is up on the porch as high as it can go. We have no hot water. We have heat in the house, but it’s not by the furnace. The furnace has to be done professionally. I’ve already got my furnace gutted out again. But now you just gotta wait it out."
Breiding’s mother, Evelyn, 84, has lived on Wheeling Island for 66 years. She lived on Front Street previously and then moved to the house on Indiana Street, and has seen a number of floods - but never back-to-back weather events like this.
"We’ve been here since ’79, that’s when we bought it," she said, noting that some of the most memorable floods came not in the spring, but in the winter. "In 1958, we had the ice on the river - it would break up as it was coming down. That was the worst I’ve seen, with ice jams and everything - it was awful."
The Breiding house was built in 1900, and they say that during the big flood of 1936 - which crested at 55.2 feet, all that could be seen of the house peeking above the water was the top of the roof.
While the south end of the Island is prone to flood, many low parts and riverfront properties of the north end of the Island also take water when the river rises. Anything above 36 feet on the Wheeling gauge is considered flood level.
"I think we’re about the second lowest area on the Island where the water comes on, other than the south end," Breiding said. "We’re the first ones to get it, and we’re the last ones to see it go down - everything flows this way. Where we’re at here - 36 feet is the flood stage. It puts it at the marina gate and in my neighbor’s basement. At 36.5 feet, it starts coming up through the storm sewers, filling the ballpark up. At 37, it’s in my basement."
Most veteran Island residents have markings in their basements or somewhere in their house from previous floods, and they know to the inch at what level they will get water. Some have questioned the prediction and the measurements by the National Weather Service, which may differ from their own markings.
"Pike Island is historically a foot higher than Wheeling," said Ben Seidler, Ward 2 City Councilman and Wheeling Island resident, noting that some people compare their numbers to the gauge measurements from the Pike Island Locks and Dam.
While some Islanders had already cleaned their basement and re-installed their hot water tanks and appliances, others found themselves ahead of the game this week because they never had a chance to put things back and ended up being prepared for another round of water. Seidler was one of them.
"Everything in my house is still on the first floor," Seidler said Friday. "It looks like an episode of ‘Hoarders.’ It was not intentional. I was out and about trying to help other people. This past week has been a blur."
Seidler took to social media Friday to urge Island residents to get their cars out of low-lying areas, as some vehicles ended up underwater on certain areas of the Island during last week’s flood.
Wheeling Ward 2 Councilman Ben Seidler and fellow Wheeling Island resident Rick Breiding meet on Indiana Street Friday afternoon ahead of the looming flood - the second significant flooding of the Ohio River in Wheeling in just over a week. (Photo by Eric Ayres)
"If you’ve got a car that is even remotely at risk of floating into your neighbor’s house - please get it out of there," he pleaded. "The 10th Street Garage is open to us again. They’re asking for ID because there are events going on this weekend, but Island residents can absolutely park there free of charge."
The councilman also encouraged those affected by flooding on Wheeling Island to check social media groups for important information and live updates.
"People can check the House of the Carpenter Facebook page and the Wheeling Island Updates Facebook page for updates on cleaning supplies," Seidler said. "The House of the Carpenter is targeting Sunday afternoon to hand out cleaning supplies. Check those pages for exact times."
The city of Wheeling had crews out for several days following last week’s flood cleaning streets, helping residents pump water out of their basements and collecting damaged items and flood debris. Cleanup lasted for a solid week through Thursday, when yet another round of torrential rains fell on the Ohio Valley and predictions of another flood began to materialize.
Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron on Friday said the city will respond once again to whatever Mother Nature brings.
"We'll clean this flood up with the same manner, intensity and effort as with past floods," Herron said. "While any flood impact is unfortunate and highly disruptive to the residents and businesses affected, we're hopeful this event will be less impactful than last week's."
A fleet of heavy equipment and vehicles from Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration remained in the parking lot of Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack on Friday, which had closed on April 3 because of last week’s flood. After the south end of the Island was cleaned up, the facility reopened on Sunday, only to close again because of the rising waters at 5 p.m. Friday. Live entertainment originally slated for this weekend and last weekend had already been rescheduled.
Crews remove heavy equipment still on site in the parking lot of Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack on Friday afternoon. The facility closed for the second time in a week because of the threat of rising Ohio River water levels, which traditionally flood the southern end of the Island. (Photo by Eric Ayres)
But even before the river was set to crest Saturday night, cleanup was already being planned by many Island residents.
"It’s a time process," Breiding said. "You can’t wait for it all to go down. When the water is going down, you’ve got to be out here with a hose while the water is receding. It’s just a tiresome process. I’m getting too old for this. I’m going to be 65 next month. I’ve seen my share. It keeps getting worse. It’s a lot of work."
Breiding praised the city crews for their efforts last week and was hopeful that the city would step up to the plate again after this event.
"Last weekend, the Operations Department for the city of Wheeling - they were marvelous," he said. "It’s the best I’ve ever seen them out here doing anything. I told them and the supervisors - a real shout-out needs to go to them."
Many Wheeling Island residents also go the extra mile to help one another.
"We’re in for it for sure," Seidler said. "Keep being good neighbors. We’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing."