Lakeview, DeGraff, Quincy officials report little impact
By SUE PITTS and MANDY HOCHSTEDLER
Examiner Staff Writers
news@examiner.org

Outside of Russells Point, where high water forced the evacuation of numerous residents, only scattered reports of damage and evacuations were generated by the flooding of the Great Miami River, officials report.

As of Thursday evening, the village of Lakeview was faring well, according to Mayor Ryan Shoffstall, who said that much had receded, but some standing water was still evident on Bentz and North streets. It was business as usual for the town that has seen its share of devastating flooding in years past.

While some roads were blocked for a period of time, Mr. Shoffstall said, “We’ve had a lot receding since (Wednesday) night.”

He had no knowledge of any village residents being displaced from their homes as was the case in 2003.

At least one Lakeview area resident left her home voluntarily to stay with family as water just began to rise Wednesday, Logan County Emergency Management Agency Director Helen Norris said.

Lakeview resident Dan Diener, who was helping family evacuate their Russells Point home, said while most of the village was clear, he barely avoided having water come into his Jervis Street home.

“The drainage just isn’t good,” he said, noting that water was almost knee deep around his home. “Every time it rains my yard floods.”

Quincy and DeGraff also appeared to have fared better than Russells Point, as village officials reported Thursday afternoon that no individuals were displaced.

“We’re pretty fortunate right now as far as the flooding situation goes,” DeGraff Mayor Philip Fawcett said.

He reported that Township Road 229, commonly referred to as River Road, had some water-covered areas. He said village roads were passable.

The flooding of T.R. 229 is “almost always a given when we have much rain,” he said.

Quincy Mayor Daniel Robinson said there were no area road closings in effect as of Thursday afternoon.

“We’re lucky to be located a little higher up there so that it (rising river water) doesn’t affect us as much as some other areas,” he said.

At least one family that lives in the Riverside Campground, which is located in an unincorporated area, did seek assistance from public agencies, Mrs. Norris said.

The campgrounds along the Miami, which were heavily flooded, are largely unused during the coldest months of winter.

Examiner staff writer Reuben Mees contributed to this story.