Butler County Engineer
Gregory J. Wilkens reports that several roads have been closed
as a result of last night's severe storms and heavy rains. BCEO
crews were mobilized early this morning to clear mud, gravel,
and debris from roads and to place high water signs in numerous
locations. Crews have also been busy clearing culverts and bridge
piers clogged by tree limbs and debris.
The hardest hits areas
were Milford, Wayne, St. Clair, Liberty, West Chester, and Fairfield
Townships. Flash flooding caused damage to several homes in Liberty
Township, according to the BCEO's Development Services Department.
Detention basins were overflowing in some subdivisions prompting
the BCEO to issue the following warning on its web site this
morning:
The Butler County
Engineer's Office warns citizens to not walk into standing water
and to not attempt to remove debris or grates in detention basins.
Doing so poses a serious risk of being sucked in. Please wait
for the water to recede at which time debris should be removed
by a professional.
Roads Closed Until
Further Notice
The following roads
are closed indefinitely while BCEO engineers assess the damage
and evaluate repairs, including cost and possible design work.
It is possible that to fix some of the damaged roads could involve
extensive engineering:
Additionally, the Ohio
Department of Transportation has closed Ohio 503 (West
Elkton Road) in Wayne Township between Tolbert Road and
Oxford Middletown Road due to a collapsed culvert.
For updates on these
and other closures, please see the Road
Closings page here on our web site.
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