Hurricanes Still Strike Far Inland as Ohio

As the 2007 hurricane season commences, millions of people in hurricane-prone areas of the country are preparing themselves. No one wants to be caught unawares when another Hurricane Katrina arrives on their doorstep. However, not all those who are so diligently preparing live in our coastal regions. The residents of tiny Marietta, Ohio stand ready. Three years ago, as the remnants of Hurricane Ivan tore through the country, the waters of the Ohio rose to almost 45 feet, a solid ten feet above flood level, according to Marietta College records. The first seven streets of downtown Marietta were covered in waist deep water, and the people who live there have not yet forgotten the tragedy.

Hurricanes that move inland can cause a great deal of damage and flooding, and although they weaken as they move inland, they can affect areas hundreds of miles from the coast. This was the case with Ivan and Marietta. It had been forty years since Marietta experienced a similar flood, and as the waters began to rise, most residents were not terribly concerned. Usually water rose just enough to frighten those with businesses located on the waterfront, before reaching plateau and gradually diminishing. This was not the case in 2004, however.

A week before Hurricane Ivan was first spotted by meteorologists, Marietta was holding its annual Sternwheel Festival, which celebrates the history of the river and of the steam driven paddle-wheel boats that once navigated it. The celebration, usually held on the waterfront, had to be moved to nearby Green Street, as the grassy area usually reserved for seating was underwater. Recent rains had caused mild flooding, and the Festival was graced with fewer boats than usual due to the dangerous currents.

When Hurricane Ivan moved into this already rain-soaked area, the results were catastrophic. Local boat owners removed their boats from the water if possible, but many broke free of docks and were later found wedged against dams downstream. Business owners evacuated what they could, but millions of dollars in damage was done. Residents, in most cases, could not get in or out of town while waters were at their highest. Everyone waited, breath held, hoping that their loved ones were ok, and that the damage would be minimal.

Steven Hune, a long-time resident and boat owner, talks about the experience.

"We couldn't get to work, and most people couldn't even leave their homes. When we finally did get downtown to survey the damage, none of us could believe what we saw. Our parents had told us about the flood of 1913, and some of us remembered the flood in 1964, but this was something completely new."

Mr. Hune helped with the cleanup downtown, especially at the Marietta Boat Club, where he is a member. "For the first day or two," he says, "we just sat around and drank beers and soda we had rescued from the clubhouse. Someone always had to be there to watch the boats on trailers in the yard. Most of the trailers were underwater, but their weight held the boats down. Then, when the water receded enough, we had to simply gut the clubhouse. The water damage was bad enough, but the river mud smelled terrible, and was impossible to wash out."

Mr. Hune and others involved in the cleanup effort were given thorough checkups at Marietta Memorial Hospital during and after the cleanup, because the mud on the bottom of the river, as well as manure washed away from upstream farms, could be dangerous to their health. After the waters had fully receded, people and businesses alike began to rebuild. Some businesses chose not to stay, after suffering heavy losses in the flood. Others took out loans from banks and residents, in an attempt to restore normalcy to their town. Things did, in fact, begin to look normal again.

However, four months later, in January, tragedy struck once again. Waters began to rise, and this time, residents were given advance warning and were prepared. Buildings and whole streets were sandbagged, and almost every business which had been affected by the September flood attempted to empty their building. Every attempt was made to minimize the damage that flood waters could do, and with good reason. It turned out that residents had done anything but overreact, as waters reached the same disastrous height they had four months previous.

Money was already stretched tight throughout town, as residents, business owners, and even government agencies reeled from the complete destruction of their recent renovations. All of the money borrowed in September would have to be borrowed again. This time, even more businesses left. Low income residents did not have a choice to leave, and repaired only what they could, making do with the rest. By the next winter, it was believed that many homes and rental properties were still without proper heating due to damages from the two floods.

Each year since the floods, Marietta becomes more and more prepared. All new buildings must be constructed well above flood level. Plans are laid into place for evacuating both private and public buildings. Money is set aside for future repairs, and local meteorologists keep a close eye on weather conditions and the state of the river. The city does not intend to be caught unprepared again. After seeing how much damage had been prevented during the second flood, the city is always working to further their preparedness.

Both coastal cities and areas prone to flooding must be aware during the hurricane season. Any advance preparations are useless without knowledge that a hurricane will soon be approaching the area. In addition, residents must be willing to evacuate, or to stay in their homes, as the situation warrants. There are some things that citizens and families can do to prepare themselves for a hurricane, or for any nature disaster or emergency. The government has published extensive information on the subject at www.ready.gov, and some of this information has been summarized below.

HAVE AN EMERGENCY KIT

Have a kit packed and ready in advance, containing flashlights, food, clean water, blankets, weather radio, first aid kit, and any other supplies that may be necessary for your family. Check the kit regularly, replace old supplies, and add new supplies as necessary.

HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN

Know where each member of the family will be during an emergency. Know how and to where you will evacuate, and where the safest place in your home is, depending on the emergency. Make sure everyone in the family knows the plan well, and tell a friend or neighbor as well. That way, if your family is missing during or after an emergency, someone can tell rescue workers where to begin looking.

KNOW THE DANGERS

Know if you are in a hurricane area, a flood area, an earthquake area, etc. Know what dangers each particular threat poses, and how to react to them. If you will need sandbags to hold back water, plywood to cover windows, or other supplies, try to have those on hand in advance. At the very least, know where you can get them if you receive warning that a storm is coming.

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN

Watch the news, read the paper, and listen to the radio. Know of any impending dangers, and listen to government suggestions and orders. If you must evacuate, do so, and do so quickly. If you are asked not to travel, do not travel if at all possible. Warnings and restrictions are put into place for your safety.

Whether or not we are in the path for a hurricane, all Americans need to be ready for an emergency at all times. It is too late as the hurricane approaches land to go and buy a flashlight. It is too late to evacuate, or to tell your children where the safest place is, when the lights are out and the water is rising. We must, individually, take responsibility for being prepared.

Marietta College, http://www.marietta.edu/~osbornee/Flood-04.html, Ed Osborne
U.S. Government, www.ready.gov,