DAYTON, Ohio — Due to ongoing heavy rainfall, the Miami Conservancy District said they have fully activated their flood protection system.
In a press release Saturday, they say the Great Miami River Watershed has seen three to five inches of rain in the last 72 hours, 1.5-2.5 in the last 24 hours.
"We are in full flood response mode,” MaryLynn Lodor, general manager of the Miami Conservancy District, said in the release. “Our team is working around the clock to monitor the conditions of dams, levees, and river and groundwater levels. The system provides protection across the region, and it is performing as designed. We are taking necessary measures to keep communities safe. If you see something of concern near any of our flood protection structures, please report it to us immediately.”
Water is being stored at flood protection dams in Germantown, Englewood, Lockington, Taylorsville and Huffman to reduce flood risk.
Floodgates have also been closed in Piqua, Troy, West Carrollton, Miamisburg, Middletown and Hamilton.
A Piqua pump station is managing water levels in the area, and the release states that technicians are “actively measuring river flows at streamgage locations throughout the watershed to ensure accurate, real-time monitoring and response.”
They say another .75 to 1.5 inches of rain is expected through Sunday.
They note that Miami Conservancy District riverfront parks in West Carrollton and Moraine will be closed as they are currently storing floodwater. They caution that bike trails inside levees could also be submerged and that the river levels “are not expected to crest until Sunday into Monday.”
“The MCD flood protection system serves 23 communities across Southwest Ohio,” the release reads. “It includes five dry dams, 55 miles of levees and floodwalls, and dozens of floodgates and pump stations—all engineered to reduce the risk of major flooding.”
In a press conference Friday, Gov. Mike DeWine and other state officials discussed preparations amid the potential for continued rainfall, severe thunderstorms and flooding. As the ground had become saturated, DeWine said they have concerns about flooding.
