Ottawa prepares for storms this weekend

OTTAWA -- Officials could meet today to discuss potential floods looming this weekend.

Jeff Loehrke, public works director for Ottawa, said village officials may meet with county officials if the forecast for this weekend does not change.

The National Weather Service predicts at least a 40 percent chance of rain through the weekend.

A check station at the Blanchard River revealed it was still at flood levels around 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. "If we did get another rain like we did Saturday, we could be in trouble," Loehrke said." The biggest problem is Ottawa sits in a valley." Heavy rains last weekend flooded the Blanchard River. Flooding forced authorities to close numerous residential streets and U.S. Route 224 and state Route 65.

The Associated Press said the Blanchard River rose more than 3.75 feet above flood stage Saturday.

Loehrke said the meeting would help coordinate local emergency responders in case there is a flood.

A plan to get volunteers to fill sandbags also would be discussed.

"Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot we can do about it," Loehrke said. "When we see a big rain, we don't see flooding until one or two days later."

The Blanchard River runs west from Findlay and often floods out Road 5N, which runs along the river in eastern Putnam County.

Ottawa uses its street sweeper after water subsides to clear debris from flooded roadways.

Loehrke said officials also look at the village's catch basins and clean them out when necessary.

Ottawa-Glandorf schools began after a two-hour delay Monday because of high water, which also forced Loving Care Day Care, 360 N. Locust St., to close for the day.

The Blanchard River flows across state Route 65 and U.S. Route 224 and when flooding closes the highways, it also usually closes many residential streets.

Don Heringhaus works in a garage at 411 W. Second St., in Ottawa.

Although Heringhaus' garage has only flooded once in the last 30 years, he said it got pretty close recently.

"I couldn't get in the building two days ago," he said. "My problem is the road out in front is so much lower than my yard."

Heringhaus blames the flooding on an old abandoned railroad bed that runs east and west near Fourth Street and acts as a dam.

He said he asked for a permanent sign that could give up-to-date river levels. The sign would allow residents to see what the river is doing and possibly save items from flood damage.