Sunday’s heavy rains spilled some creeks into roadways across the Lawrence County area and delayed school at Symmes Valley this morning.

Monday, February 14, 2000

Sunday’s heavy rains spilled some creeks into roadways across the Lawrence County area and delayed school at Symmes Valley this morning.

Trouble spots were concentrated in the eastern end of the county, according to Lawrence County 911 reports.

Callers reported high water at the 8-mile marker on Ohio 775 and at Ohio 217 and County Road 67 near the covered bridge.

Water also is over Ohio 93 between the 11- and 13-mile markers, state highway garage officials said.

Several of Symmes Valley’s bus routes were reported to have water-covered roads here and there, which delayed school by two hours, superintendent Tom Ben said.

"The delay is to see if the water recedes and that way we can bring more children here," he said shortly after 9 a.m. "We’ll find out how successful we are."

Several Scioto County and Cabell County, W.Va., schools also delayed or called off classes today due to standing water on roadways.

Lawrence and Scioto counties were under a flash flood watch issued by the National Weather Service for southeastern Ohio Sunday evening, but police and sheriff’s department officials reported no flooding during the night.

Lawrence County’s 911 and Emergency Management Agency did not receive any high water calls, either.

"If anything, there’s a little water over the roads in the normal low spots," EMA deputy director Larry Jewell said.

"There wasn’t any residents who had to move out of the way of any water," he said.

And, any water on roadways is expected to recede quickly, Jewell said.

Water near Hog Run Road, Lawrence Street Road and Reeves Creek Road kept county road crews busy putting up high water signs this morning, county garage superintendent Jim O’Keefe said.

"We also have crews out riding and checking for high water and mudslides," O’Keefe said. "But people are not really reporting anything serious."

Athens and Scioto counties’ roadways saw worse problems with high water, he added.

The National Weather Service predicted a chance of more showers this afternoon, with rain turning to snow as temperatures drop.

The chance of rain returns Wednesday when temperatures are again expected to hit the lower and mid-50s.