Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519

By Andrew D. Ebner, David E. Straub, and Jonathan D. Lageman

In cooperation with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency

Open-File Report 2008–1290

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Mark D. Myers, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2008

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Suggested citation: Ebner, A.D., Straub, D.E., and Lageman, J.D., 2008, Floods of May and June 2004 in central and eastern Ohio— FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008–1290, 85 p. iii

Contents

Abstract...... 1 Introduction...... 1 Antecedent Climatic Conditions...... 3 May 18–25, 2004, Flood...... 3 Storms of May 17–23, 2004...... 3 General Description of the May 18–25, 2004, Flood...... 5 Areal Distribution...... 5 Flood Stages, Streamflows, and Recurrence Intervals...... 5 June 9, 2004, Flood...... 18 Storms of June 9, 2004...... 18 General Description of the June 9, 2004, Flood...... 18 Areal Distribution...... 18 Flood Stages, Streamflows, and Recurrence Intervals...... 18 June 11–18, 2004, Flood...... 18 Storms of June 11–17, 2004...... 22 General Description of the June 11–18, 2004, Flood...... 22 Areal Distribution...... 22 Flood Stages, Streamflows, and Recurrence Intervals...... 29 Flood and Storm Damages Associated with FEMA-1519-DR...... 29 Summary...... 33 Acknowledgments...... 33 References Cited...... 33 Appendix 1. Details of Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analyses...... 35 1–A. West Fork Duck Creek near the Village of Belle Valley...... 36 1–B. Plum Creek near the City of Brunswick...... 37 1–C. West Branch Sunday Creek and West Branch Sunday Creek Tributary near the Village of Hemlock...... 38 1–D. East Branch Rocky River Tributary R9 near the City of North Royalton...... 39 1–E. Mud Brook Tributary 1C and Cuyahoga River Tributary 1A near the City of Stow...... 40

Figures

1–15. Maps showing: 1. Ohio counties declared disaster areas under FEMA declaration 1519...... 2 2. Regionally averaged monthly total precipitation and percentage of normal precipitation for the 10 climatic regions of Ohio for A, March and B, April 2004...... 4 3. Isohyetal map of 7-day rainfall totals in Ohio for May 17–23, 2004...... 6 4. Locations of selected U.S. Geological Survey streamgages that are referred to in this report...... 8 iv

5. Selected areas of southeastern Ohio affected by flooding during May 18–25, 2004...... 10 6. Selected areas of eastern Ohio affected by flooding during May 18–25, 2004...... 11 7. Selected areas of northeastern Ohio affected by flooding during May 18–25, 2004...... 12 8. Selected areas of northern Ohio affected by flooding during May 18–25, 2004...... 13 9. Isohyetal map of 6-hour rainfall totals from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on June 9, 2004...... 19 10. Selected areas of northern Ohio affected by flooding on June 9, 2004...... 21 11. Isohyetal map of 7-day rainfall totals in Ohio for June 11–17, 2004...... 23 12. Selected areas of eastern Ohio affected by flooding during June 11–17, 2004...... 25 13. Selected areas of north-central Ohio affected by flooding during June 11–17, 2004...... 26 14. Selected areas of southwestern, western, and central Ohio affected by flooding during June 11–17, 2004...... 27 15. Selected areas of east-central Ohio affected by flooding during June 11–17, 2004...... 28 1-A1–1-E1. Maps showing: 1–A1. Location of the West Fork Duck Creek study reach for the Village of Belle Valley, Ohio...... 36 1–B1. Location of the Plum Creek study reach for the City of Brunswick, Ohio...... 37 1–C1. Location of the West Branch Sunday Creek and West Branch Sunday Creek Tributary study reaches for the Village of Hemlock, Ohio...... 38 1–D1. Location of the East Branch Rocky River Tributary R9 study reach for the City of North Royalton, Ohio...... 39 1–E1. Location of the Mud Brook Tributary 1C and Cuyahoga River Tributary 1A study reaches for the City of Stow, Ohio...... 40 1–A2. Graph showing flood profiles for West Fork Duck Creek near the Village of Belle Valley for the 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year-recurrence-interval floods...... 53 1–A3. Photograph showing cross-section locations for flood profiles on West Fork Duck Creek near the Village of Belle Valley, Ohio...... 54 1–B2. Graph showing flood profiles for Plum Creek near the City of Brunswick for the 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year-recurrence-interval floods...... 60 1–B3. Photograph showing cross-section locations for flood profiles on Plum Creek near the City of Brunswick, Ohio...... 61 1–C2. Graph showing flood profiles for West Branch Sunday Creek near the Village of Hemlock for the 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year-recurrence-interval floods...... 66 1–C3. Graph showing flood profiles for West Branch Sunday Creek Tributary near the Village of Hemlock for the 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year-recurrence-interval floods....66 1–C4. Photograph showing cross-section locations for flood profiles on West Branch Sunday Creek near the Village of Hemlock, Ohio ...... 67 1–C5. Photograph showing cross-section locations for flood profiles on West Branch Sunday Creek Tributary near the Village of Hemlock, Ohio...... 68 1–D2. Graph showing flood profiles for East Branch Rocky River Tributary R9 near the City of North Royalton for the 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year- recurrence-interval floods...... 72 v

1–D3. Photograph showing cross-section locations for flood profiles on East Branch Rocky River Tributary R9 near the City of North Royalton, Ohio...... 73 1–E2. Graph showing flood profiles for Mud Brook Tributary 1C near the City of Stow for the 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year-recurrence-interval floods...... 81 1–E3. Graph showing flood profiles for Cuyahoga River Tributary 1A near the City of Stow for the 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year- recurrence-interval floods...... 82 1–E4. Photograph showing cross-section locations for flood profiles on Mud Brook Tributary 1C near the City of Stow, Ohio...... 83 1–E5. Photograph showing cross-section locations for flood profiles on Cuyahoga River Tributary 1A near the City of Stow, Ohio...... 84

Tables

1. Precipitation totals and recurrence intervals for selected National Weather Service rain gages in Ohio for May 17–23, 2004...... 7 2. Areas and streams affected by flooding during May 18–25, 2004...... 9 3. Peak stages, peak streamflows, and estimated recurrence-interval ranges at selected USGS streamgages in Ohio, May 18–25, 2004...... 14 4. Precipitation totals and recurrence intervals for selected Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District rain gages in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, on June 9, 2004...... 20 5. Areas and streams affected by flooding on June 9, 2004...... 20 6. Peak stages, peak streamflows, and estimated recurrence-interval ranges at selected USGS streamgages in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, June 9, 2004...... 20 7. Precipitation totals and recurrence intervals for selected National Weather Service rain gages in Ohio for June 11–17, 2004...... 24 8. Areas and streams affected by flooding during June 11–18, 2004...... 24 9. Peak stages, peak streamflows, and estimated recurrence-interval ranges at selected USGS streamgages in Ohio, June 11–18, 2004...... 30 10. Damage estimates for Individual Assistance associated with Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster declaration FEMA–1519–DR...... 32 11. Damage estimates for Public Assistance associated with Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster declaration FEMA–1519–DR...... 32 1–1. Summary of existing FIS(s) for selected streams in disaster area FEMA–1519–DR...... 35 1–2. Summary of the explanatory-variable values used in the regression equations and the resulting 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year flood-peak discharge estimates...... 42 1–3. Summary of the hydraulic model version and analysis date for each of the studied stream reaches...... 43 1–A1. Summary of hydraulic-structure solutions for the 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year profiles of West Fork Duck Creek near the Village of Belle Valley...... 46 1–A2. Comparison of published coordinates to USGS-surveyed coordinates and bench marks used in the study of Duck Creek near the Village of Belle Valley...... 47 1–B1. Summary of hydraulic-structure solutions for the 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year profiles of Plum Creek near the City of Brunswick...... 56 1–B2. Comparison of published coordinates to USGS-surveyed coordinates and bench marks used in the study of Plum Creek near the City of Brunswick...... 57 1–C1. Summary of hydraulic-structure solutions for the 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year profiles of West Branch Sunday Creek and West Branch Sunday Creek Tributary near the Village of Hemlock...... 63 vi

1–C2. Comparison of published coordinates to USGS-surveyed coordinates and bench marks used in the study of West Branch Sunday Creek and West Branch Sunday Creek Tributary near the Village of Hemlock...... 64 1–D1. Summary of hydraulic-structure solutions for the 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year profiles of East Branch Rocky River Tributary R9 near the City of North Royalton...... 70 1–D2. Comparison of published coordinates to USGS-surveyed coordinates and bench marks used in the study of East Branch Rocky River Tributary R9 near the City of North Royalton...... 71 1–E1. Summary of hydraulic-structure solutions for the 10-, 50-, 100-, and 500-year profiles of Mud Brook Tributary 1C and Cuyahoga River Tributary 1A near the City of Stow...... 76 1–E2. Summary of the breakup of the modeled reach for Cuyahoga River Tributary 1A near the City of Stow...... 77 1–E3. Comparison of published coordinates to USGS-surveyed coordinates and bench marks used in the study of Mud Brook Tributary 1C and Cuyahoga River Tributary 1A near the City of Stow...... 77

Conversion Factors and Abbreviations

Multiply By To obtain Length inch (in.) 25.4 millimeter (mm) foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m) mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km) Area square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2) Flow rate foot per second (ft/s) 0.3048 meter per second (m/s) cubic foot per second (ft3/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88), the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1912 Datum (COE 1912), as noted. Elevation, as used in this report, refers to distance above the vertical datum. Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Abbreviations

FEMA – Federal Emergency Management NWS – National Weather Service Agency Ohio EMA – Ohio Emergency Management FIS – Flood Insurance Study Agency GPS – Global Positioning System RTK – Real-Time Kinematic GIS – Geographical Information System TIN – Triangulated Irregular Network NEORSD – Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer USACE – United States Army Corps of Engineers District USGS – U.S. Geological Survey NGS – National Geodetic Survey USC&GS – United States Coast & Geodetic NOAA – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Survey Administration Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519

By Andrew D. Ebner, David E. Straub, and Jonathan D. Lageman

Abstract

Several severe thunderstorms that passed through Ohio between May 17 and June 17, 2004, produced large amounts of rain in an already wet central and eastern Ohio, resulting in flooding in this region from May 18 to June 21, 2004. Record peak streamflow occurred at three U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) streamgages. Damages caused by the flooding resulting from these storms were severe enough that 25 counties in central and eastern Ohio were declared Federal disaster areas. In all, there were two storm- or flood-related deaths, 3,529 private structures damaged or destroyed, and an estimated $43 million in damages. This report describes the meteorological factors that resulted in severe flooding in central and eastern Ohio between May 18 and June 21, 2004, and addresses the damages caused by the storms and flooding. Peak-stage, peak-streamflow, and recurrence-interval data are reported for selected USGS streamgages. Flood profiles determined by the USGS are presented for selected streams.

Introduction

Several severe thunderstorms1 crossed Ohio between May 17 and June 17, 2004, causing flooding in central and eastern Ohio. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared 25 counties affected by these storms as disaster areas (FEMA–1519–DR, Ohio, declared on June 3, 2004, with an incident period from May 18 through June 21, 2004). Figure 1 shows the 25 counties that were declared Federal disaster areas and whether they were declared to be eligible for Individual Assistance2, Public Assistance3, or both (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2007). In many of these counties, several floods occurred during this month-long period. Because of the magnitude of these floods, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA), completed a study to document this historic event. Documentation of floods can assist Fed- eral, State, and local agencies in making informed decisions on flood-plain management and flood-emergency practices. Flood profiles were developed for West Fork Duck Creek near the Village of Belle Valley (appendix 1–A), Plum Creek near the City of Brunswick (appendix 1–B), West Branch Sunday Creek near the Village of Hemlock (appendix 1–C), a tributary of West Branch Sunday Creek near the Village of Hemlock (appendix 1–C), a tributary of East Branch Rocky River near the City of North Royalton (appendix 1–D), and a tributary of Mud Brook near the City of Stow (appendix 1–E), and a tributary of the Cuyahoga River near the City of Stow (appendix 1–E) as requested by Ohio EMA. The disaster declaration is divided into three separate flood events in this report: May 18–25, 2004; June 9, 2004; and June 11–18, 2004. This report describes the weather conditions leading to each flood. A general description of each flood is also presented, along with damage estimates.

1 Severe thunderstorms are defined as those that produce wind gusts equal to or greater than 50 knots and (or) hail at least three-quarters of an inch in diameter and (or) produces a tornado (National Weather Service, 2007a). 2 Individual Assistance is defined as assistance to individuals and households. 3 Public Assistance is defined as assistance to State and local governments for the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged public facilities. 2 Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519

81° 84°

83° 82° Geauga Cuyahoga Lorain Portage Medina Summit Mahoning 41°

Crawford Stark Columbiana Richland

Holmes Carroll Jefferson Logan Knox Tuscarawas Delaware Harrison

Licking Guernsey 40°

Perry Noble

Hocking

Athens

39°

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, State Plane Ohio South 0 30 60 MILES

0 40 80 KILOMETERS EXPLANATION Individual Assistance (includes damage to private property)

Individual and Public Assistance (includes damage to private and public property)

Public Assistance (includes damage to public property)

Figure 1. Ohio counties declared disaster areas under FEMA declaration 1519 (modified from Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2007). May 18–25, 2004, Flood 3

Antecedent Climatic Conditions

Unusually wet conditions that preceded the floods in Ohio during May and June of 2004 contributed to the severity of flooding. Climatic conditions prior to the flooding are presented in this section. March 2004. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) divides Ohio into 10 regions based on similar climatological characteristics. Much of the eastern two-thirds of the State received above-normal4 precipitation, whereas the western third received below-normal precipitation (fig. 2A). The State as a whole was 0.15 in. above normal for the month, with an average precipitation of 3.32 in. The North Central, Central Hills, and Northeast Regions (Ohio’s snowbelt is contained within these regions) were all well above normal precipitation for March (fig. 2A)(Cashell and Kirk, 2004a). April 2004. Precipitation totals in the eastern and south-central parts of the State were above normal for the month, whereas the western part of the State was below normal (fig. 2B). As a whole, the State was 0.28 in. below normal for the month, with an average precipitation of 3.30 in. The Northeast Hills Region received the most precipitation with 4.48 in., and the Northwest Region received the least precipitation with only 0.82 in. (fig. 2B) (Cashell and Kirk, 2004b).

May 18–25, 2004, Flood

Storms between May 17 and 23, 2004, led to flooding in central and eastern Ohio from May 18 to 25, 2004. These storms crossed central and eastern Ohio following a wetter than normal March and April (fig. 2A, B).

Storms of May 17–23, 2004

From May 17 to 23, 2004, winds from the southwest brought moisture-laden air from the Gulf of Mexico into Ohio. This led to high levels of moisture convergence5, which increases the potential for high rainfall totals during storms. During the afternoon and evening of May 17, a warm front associated with a mid-latitude cyclone6 centered over Lake Superior moved northeast across Ohio and brought scattered thunderstorms to the region. In Richland County nearly 1.5 in. of rain fell during the passage of this storm, while areas of Hocking County recorded 0.6 in. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004a). These storms were isolated; much of the State did not receive any precipitation. On the morning of May 18, the mid-latitude cyclone that was centered over Lake Superior moved northeast into northeastern Canada. By late evening on May 18, the cold front associated with the mid-latitude cyclone began to move southeast across Ohio before stalling out over central Ohio during the early morning of May 19. This stationary front remained over Ohio until the late evening of May 19. Precipitation formed along the stationary front, with 0.1–0.5 in. of rain falling on most of northwestern Ohio during the 48-hour period of May 18–19. During the same period, much of central and southeastern Ohio received 1.5–2.5 in., with parts of Hocking County receiving more than 3.5 in. of rain (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- tion, 2004a). In the early morning of May 20, the warm air that was south of the stationary front over Ohio on May 19 began to move north. In the wake of this passing warm front, Ohio received little precipitation. This warm front was associated with another mid-latitude cyclone that had formed over northern Minnesota. As this mid-latitude cyclone advanced eastward into Canada, its associated cold front stretched across Lake Erie, just north of Ohio. Three different rounds of severe thunderstorms swept across Ohio during a 24-hour period from May 21 to May 22. The first round of thunderstorms occurred in the early morning of May 21 as the cold front moved southward and stalled out over northern Ohio. A line of severe thunderstorms spawned by this stalled cold front moved across central and northern Ohio between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. The second round of thunderstorms occurred in the afternoon of May 21 between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. This line of severe thunderstorms formed along the stalled front and moved southeast from Michigan across Ohio. The third round of thunderstorms occurred on May 22 between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. This line of severe thunderstorms again formed along the stalled front and moved eastward from Michigan, across Lake Erie, and into northeastern Ohio. The southwestern half of the State received 0–0.5 in. of rain, and much of the northeastern half of the State received 1.0–3.0 in. during the 48-hour period of May 21–22. Parts of Summit, Cuyahoga, and Portage Counties received more than 3.5 in. in this 48-hour period (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004a).

4 “Normal” refers to the average value for the period 1951–2000 (Cashell and Kirk, 2004 a,b). 5 Moisture convergence is defined as a measure of the degree to which moist air is converging into a given area. 6 A mid-latitude cyclone is defined as a low pressure system characterized by the presence of frontal boundaries. Also called an extratropical cyclone. 4 Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519

A March 2004 81º 84º 83º 82º Northeast Northwest 4.10 137 2.05 North Central 3.62 41º 77 136 Central Hills Northeast Hills 3.71 3.20 West Central 120 98 2.66 Central 91 40º 3.26 107 Southeast Southwest 3.57 2.87 103 77 South Central 39º 4.19 108

B April 2004 81º 84º 83º 82º Northeast Northwest 3.74 106 0.82 North Central 2.36 41º 24 70 Central Hills Northeast Hills 3.53 4.48 West Central 96 129 2.16 Central EXPLANATION 59 40º 3.56 4.47 Average (inches) 98 Southeast 125 Percent of normal Southwest 4.33 123 3.55 020 4060 80 MILES 90 South 030 6090 120 KILOMETERS Central 39º 4.47 125

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, State Plane Ohio South

Figure 2. Regionally averaged monthly total precipitation and percentage of normal precipitation for the 10 climatic regions of Ohio for A, March and B, April 2004 (modified from Cashell and Kirk, 2004 a,b; “normal” refers to the average value for the period 1951–2000). May 18–25, 2004, Flood 5

Scattered thunderstorms in the late evening of May 23 brought less than 1.0 in. of rain to parts of northern and eastern Ohio (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004a). In the morning of May 24, the frontal system that had stalled out over northern Ohio moved northward, and the unstable air that had been over Ohio for 3 days was replaced by warm, stable air. During the 7-day period from May 17–23, 2004, rainfall was spread across the State with more than 5 in. of rain falling in parts of central, eastern, northeastern, and northwestern Ohio (fig. 3). Woodsfield, in Monroe County, received the most rainfall for the State during this 7-day period with 5.70 in. of rain. Rainfall intensities and recurrence intervals for selected National Weather Service (NWS) sites from this storm are listed in table 1. The time period used in table 1 is variable in order to show the most intense period of rainfall at the selected rain-gage sites.

General Description of the May 18–25, 2004, Flood

The following sections present information about the flooding that resulted from the May 17–23, 2004, storms. This section focuses on streamflow and stage at selected USGS streamgages in the affected counties (fig. 4). The omission from this report of any rivers or communities that experienced flooding is not a reflection of the severity of the flooding or the impact on those communities but rather is due to a lack of available streamflow data.

Areal Distribution The counties listed in table 2 were declared Federal disaster areas (FEMA–1519–DR) as a result of the flooding of May 18–25, 2004. Table 2 also lists the areas affected by flooding and the streams that caused the flooding. Locations of USGS streamgages and streams in the areas that were flooded are shown in figures 5–8.

Flood Stages, Streamflows, and Recurrence Intervals USGS streamgage records were examined to determine the gages where notable flooding occurred. The peak streamflows determined for those gages were compared to the recurrence intervals for streamflows that are reported in Koltun and others (2006). For streamgages that did not have sufficient record to compute a reliable recurrence-interval estimate and so are not reported in Koltun and others (2006), recurrence intervals were estimated by use of Ohio StreamStats (U.S. Geological Sur- vey, 2007). Table 3 lists the peak stage, peak streamflow, and recurrence-interval range for selected USGS streamgages for May 18–25, 2004. For those stations on regulated rivers, a recurrence interval is not given. Record peak streamflow occurred at the streamgage on Leatherwood Creek (station 03141870). However, the period of record for this station is relatively short. The 100–500 year recurrence interval estimated for Schocalog Run at Copley Junction (station 03115973) and the 50–100 year recurrence interval estimated for Yellow Creek at Botzum (station 04206220) were the two largest recurrence intervals estimated for USGS streamgages for May 18–June 21, 2004. Of the 29 gages for which an estimated recurrence-interval range was computed, 8 of the gages had estimated recurrence-interval ranges of less than 2 years and 13 of the gages had estimated recurrence- interval ranges of 2–5 years. Whereas this indicates that these were small events, more widespread damage assessments indicate that a majority of the flooding occurred on ungaged streams. 6 Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519

81° 84° 3.0 1.0 3.0 83° 82° 2.0 e 5.0 d 4.0 41° 3.0 c 2.0 1.0 4.0 5.0 5.0 4.0

b 1.0 2.0 40° 5.0 4.0 a 5.0 f

3.0 2.0 39°

Base from U.S. Geological Survey 1.0 digital data, variously scaled, State Plane Ohio South 2.0

EXPLANATION 0 40 80 MILES Line of equal 7-day total rainfall, in inches 3.0 0 60 120 KILOMETERS Rain gage station name a a - Woodsfield 2 N b - Coshocton AGRI RS STA c - Upper Sandusky d - Ravenna 2 S e - Oberlin f - Enterprise

Figure 3. Isohyetal map of 7-day rainfall totals in Ohio for May 17–23, 2004. Based on data collected at 138 rain gages throughout Ohio (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004a). May 18–25, 2004, Flood 7

Table 1. Precipitation totals and recurrence intervals for selected National Weather Service rain gages in Ohio for May 17–23, 2004. Station locations are shown on figure 3.

[Data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004a]

Dates Period Precipitation Recurrence interval1 Station name County (2004) (days) (inches) (years)

Woodsfield 2 N Monroe May 19–22 4 5.70 25–50

Coshocton AGRI RS STA Coshocton May 18–21 4 5.20 10–25

Upper Sandusky Wyandot May 19–22 4 5.10 10–25

Ravenna 2 S Portage May 19–22 4 5.08 10–25

Oberlin Lorain May 19–22 4 4.59 10–25

Enterprise Hocking May 17–20 4 4.24 5–10

1From National Weather Service (2007b). 8 Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519

81°00' 84°00'

83°00' 82°00' 04201500 04200500 04208000 04207200 03093000 # 03094000 ## ## 04202000# 04198000# 04199500 03097550 04206220 04206043 ## 04206212 ## # # ### # #03098600 03115973 03092090 04206000 03091500 41°00' 04196500# 04196000 #03118000 # 03117000 # #03118500 # # #03117500 03109500 03124500# # 03225500 03121850 # 03136175 # # # 03122500 03110000 03219500# 03136500 03139000 03260706# # # # 03220000 03228750 # # # # 03129000 03266560 # 03228300 # # 03228805 03111500 03221000 03146500# ##03141870 40°00' 03142000

#03150000 ##03157500 #03115400 03157000 # # 03159000 03158200 # 03159500

39°00'

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, variously scaled, State Plane Ohio South

EXPLANATION

03159500 # Streamgage and number 0 50 100 MILES

0 50 100 KILOMETERS

Figure 4. Locations of selected U.S. Geological Survey streamgages that are referred to in this report. May 18–25, 2004, Flood 9

Table 2. Areas and streams affected by flooding during May 18–25, 2004. [Data from Angel and others, 2004a]

County Stream(s) Areas Figure

Athens West Branch Sunday Creek Glouster 5 Sunday Creek Glouster, Trimble, and Jacksonville 5 Carroll Data not available Dellroy to Carrollton 6 Columbiana Middle Fork Little Beaver Creek Lisbon 7 North Fork Little Beaver Creek Negley 7 Leslie Run Negley, East Palestine 7 Brush Run Negley 7 East Fork Little Beaver Creek Leetonia and Washingtonville 7 Cuyahoga Cuyahoga River Valley View 8 Big Creek Parma 8 Rocky River widespread 8 East Branch Rocky River North Royalton 8 Baldwin Creek North Royalton 8 Guernsey Miller Creek Cumberland 6 Hocking Monday Creek Carbon Hill 5 Hocking River Logan 5 Lorain West Branch Black River Wellington, Lagrange, and Oberlin 8 East Branch Black River Grafton 8 Mahoning Yellow Creek Poland 7 Mahoning River Youngstown and Mill Creek Park 7 Medina Chippewa Creek Gloria Glens Park 6 East Branch Rocky River Widespread 8 West Branch Rocky River Widespread 8 Plum Creek Brunswick 8 Noble West Fork Duck Creek Caldwell and Belle Valley 6 Perry West Branch Sunday Creek Hemlock 5 Sunday Creek Corning 5 Portage West Branch Mahoning River Ravenna 7 Cuyahoga River Kent 8 Summit Wolf Creek Barberton, Copley, and Norton 6 Pigeon Creek Copley 6 Schocalog Run Copley 6 Cuyahoga River Cuyahoga Falls and Stow 8 Mud Brook Stow 8 Tuscarawas Huff Run Mineral City 6 Tuscarawas River Northeast of New Philadelphia 6 10 Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519

OHIO

82°45' 82°15'

FAIRFIELD

39°45' PERRY

Sunday

Clear

West Creek

# Monday Corning 03157500 03157000 # Hemlock Branch Logan Carbon Hill Hocking Creek # Glouster HOCKING 03159000 Trimble

Jacksonville # Creek 03158200

03159500 Base from U.S. Geological Survey # 81°45' digital data, variously scaled, River State Plane Ohio South ATHENS 39°15'

EXPLANATION

03159500 # Streamgage and number City or village

0 10 20 MILES

0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Figure 5. Selected areas of southeastern Ohio affected by flooding during May 18–25, 2004. May 18–25, 2004, Flood 11

81°30'

OHIO 82°00' SUMMIT MEDINA Pigeon Cr. Copley Schocalog Run Wolf #03115973 Gloria Glens Park Middle Branch

Cr. Nimishillen Cr. Chip BarbertonTusc 41°00' Norton 81°00'

p e a STARK wa r a Cr. was Sugar 03118000 # Nimishillen Cr. 03117000 COLUMBIANA Creek #River Creek WAYNE 03118500# # Sandy 03117500 Mineral City # Huff Run # 03110000 03124500 03121850 Carrollton # HOLMES # Dellroy 03122500 40°30' New Philadelphia Creek CARROLL Yellow TUSCARAWAS COSHOCTON JEFFERSON Tuscarawas River # 03129000 HARRISON Short 03111500 Creek #

MUSKINGUM GUERNSEY

Cr. Muskingum Muskingum # Leatherwood BELMONT 40°00' 03142000 # Cr. 03141870

Wills Cumberland W. NOBLE Fk. Miller Cr. River Duck MONROE Belle Valley Cr. # Caldwell 03150000 River 03115400# Duck 39°30' MORGAN

Cr. Muskingum WASHINGTON Little Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, variously scaled, State Plane Ohio South

EXPLANATION

03150000 # Streamgage and number 0 10 20 MILES City or village 0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Figure 6. Selected areas of eastern Ohio affected by flooding during May 18–25, 2004. 12 Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519

OHIO 80°45'

41°30'

81°15'

TRUMBULL

Eagle Cr.

#03093000 West # 03094000

Branch 03097550 03092090 # # River Ravenna River # Mahoning Mahoning 03091500 #03098600 Youngstown PORTAGE Mill Creek Park

MAHONING Poland 41°00' Washingtonville Cr.

Yellow East Palestine

Fork

Base from U.S. Geological Survey Leetonia Middle Creek digital data, variously scaled, E. Br. Leslie ver

State Plane Ohio South Run

Little Bea Little Lisbon Beaver Negley Brush

Cr. Fork Run N.

Little av e e r COLUMBIANA B # 03109500Creek

EXPLANATION 0 10 20 MILES 03092090 # Streamgage and number City or village 0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Figure 7. Selected areas of northeastern Ohio affected by flooding during May 18–25, 2004. May 18–25, 2004, Flood 13

OHIO

81°00'

81°30'

82°00'

Baldwin Cr.

CUYAHOGA GEAUGA 41°30'

R. 82°30' R. LORAIN Cr. 04208000 #Rocky Parma Valley View Big 04201500 River # #Black # #04207200 04199500 04200500 Tinkers Cuyahoga #

ERIE N. Royalton 04202000 Oberlin Branch Grafton Branch East Cuyahoga Falls Brunswick Cr. Lagrange N. Br. Branch Plum Cr. Fk.

Mud Stow River 04206212# Branch # HURON Wellington # Kent

Cr. # 04206043

West East 04206000 Yellow PORTAGE West 04206220 MEDINA

SUMMIT 41°00' Vermilion

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, variously scaled, ASHLAND State Plane Ohio South

EXPLANATION

03159500 # Streamgage and number 0 10 20 MILES

City or village 0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Figure 8. Selected areas of northern Ohio affected by flooding during May 18–25, 2004. 14 Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519

d c c d d d d c d d d < 2 < 2 < 2 < 2 N/A 2–5 2–5 2–5 2–5 2–5 2–5 (years) 10–25 Estimated recurrence- interval range /s) 3 602 (ft 9,920 7,140 4,810 1,440 3,140 3,200 2,600 1,980 1,800 3,050 14,300 Streamflow

(ft) 4.25 7.21 9.17 6.74 6.53 7.98 13.02 Stage 13.35 12.07 18.55 20.70 12.68

Maximum during May 18–25 Date May 22 May 19 May 18 May 19 May 19 May 19 May 19 May 20 May 21 May 21 May 22 May 22 /s) 3 (ft 1,090 1,240 5,130 9,580 8,200 4,810 6,700 13,000 26,000 62,000 16,000 50,000 Streamflow

(ft) 5.16 15.42 Stage 23.5 12.06 17.68 21.31 19.42 27.00 12.17 12.27 10.76 13.12

a Maximum prior to May 18 year 2003 2000 1913 2002 1948 1964 1998 1907 1952 1990 2003 1959 Water Water a 9 6 9 84 67 76 94 66 65 41 77 19 record Period of systematic (water years) b b b e b b b b b b b f (ft) Gage datum 611.26 861.51 795.78 760.13 723.58 692.10 676.10 887.14 650 886.98 843.08 1,011.80 ) 2 69.5 89 21.8 97.6 12.3 114 459 943 147 123 854 (mi area 1,405 /s, cubic feet per second; <, less than; N/A, not available; thick lines separate dates of maximum peak] 3 Drainage

below Dover Dam near Dover near Kipling Rockbridge Enterprise Doanville Athens Hammondsville Dillonvale Mahoning River near Ravenna Phalanx Station Mineral City of determination Stream and place Tuscarawas River Tuscarawas Leatherwood Creek Clear Creek near Hocking River at Monday Creek at Hocking River at Creek near Yellow Short Creek near Branch West Eagle Creek at Mahoning River at Ohio Edison Power Plant at Niles Huff Run at Huff Peak stages, peak streamflows, and estimated recurrence-interval ranges at selected USGS streamgages in Ohio, May 18–25, 2004. 03122500 03141870 03157000 03157500 03158200 03159500 03110000 03111500 03092090 03093000 03097550 03121850 Permanent , square miles; ft, feet (above gage datum); ft 2 station number Table 3. Table [mi May 18–25, 2004, Flood 15

d d d c d d d d d d < 2 < 2 < 2 N/A N/A 2–5 2–5 2–5 2–5 5–10 5–10 (years) 100–500 Estimated recurrence- interval range /s) 3 267 706 (ft 1,080 6,360 3,560 3,390 2,070 6,970 14,300 11,300 36,700 13,300 Streamflow

(ft) 6.42 7.27 7.85 4.43 5.66 8.26 7.58 15.91 Stage 20.2 13.59 10.27 17.29

Maximum during May 18–25 Date May 22 May 22 May 22 May 22 May 22 May 22 May 22 May 22 May 22 May 22 May 22 May 22 /s) 3 275 (ft 2,470 9,310 1,090 15,800 32,300 15,000 19,700 83,000 40,800 24,000 270,000 Streamflow

g (ft) 6.50 5.16 17.49 Stage 30.78 13.64 10.05 14.18 12.70 21.50 33.50 17.14 22.90

a Maximum prior to May 18 year 2003 1959 1998 2003 1959 2003 2000 1935 1913 1913 1969 1959 Water Water a 9 32 15 68 66 85 53 84 79 38 62 19 record Period of systematic (water years) b e e e b e e e b b b b (ft) Gage datum 780.00 645.99 994 955.00 976.72 886.98 650.31 595.14 620.83 896.24 824.10 1,046.60 ) 2 3.65 43.1 12.3 311 210 253 175 262 396 978 (mi area 2,443 7,422 /s, cubic feet per second; <, less than; N/A, not available; thick lines separate dates of maximum peak] 3 Drainage

of determination Tuscarawas River Tuscarawas at Newcomerstown Little Muskingum River at Bloomfield Schocalog Run at Copley Junction Sandy Creek at Waynesburg Middle Branch Nimishillen Creek at North Industry Run at Huff Mineral City Sugar Creek at Strasburg Muskingum River at McConnelsville River Vermilion Vermilion near Black River at Elyria Nimishillen Creek at Canton Mahoning River at Ave West below Youngstown Stream and place Peak stages, peak streamflows, and estimated recurrence-interval ranges at selected USGS streamgages in Ohio, May 18–25, 2004. —Continued Permanent 03129000 03115400 03115973 03117500 03118000 03118500 03121850 03124500 03150000 04199500 04200500 03098600 , square miles; ft, feet (above gage datum); ft 2 station number Table 3. Table [mi 16 Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519

d d d d d d d d < 2 N/A N/A N/A N/A 2–5 2–5 2–5 5–10 (years) 10–25 10–25 50–100 Estimated recurrence- interval range /s) 3 863 720 (ft 5,570 3,940 2,810 7,470 5,240 1,020 2,150 14,700 15,000 12,000 Streamflow

(ft) 9.12 7.16 4.29 Stage 11.78 13.74 15.26 12.6 13.41 17.34 21.66 14.16 12.52

Maximum during May 18–25 Date May 22 May 22 May 22 May 22 May 23 May 22 May 22 May 22 May 23 May 23 May 24 May 24 /s) 3 885 (ft 2,960 7,220 3,670 6,500 1,120 11,400 24,800 20,300 25,000 10,700 21,400 Streamflow

h (ft) 8.11 Stage 11.54 19.53 10.10 22.41 19.37 17.40 26.91 16.43 14.10 12.93 12.93

a Maximum prior to May 18 2003 1969 1959 1959 1941 1998 1969 1959 year 1959 1959 2003 1992 Water Water a 5 75 83 15 15 44 77 67 92 72 68 70 record Period of systematic (water years) b b b b e e b e b b b b (ft) Gage datum 953.78 916.00 702.77 950 583.57 871.25 772.34 740.11 760 876.18 649.90 1,087.46 ) 2 5.58 25.6 30.7 83.9 404 267 (mi area 518 496 707 575 406 151 /s, cubic feet per second; <, less than; N/A, not available; thick lines separate dates of maximum peak] 3 Drainage

at Massillon near East Liverpool River at Independence Leavittsburg Cambridge Hiram Rapids Botzum Bedford of determination Mud Brook at Cuyahoga Falls North Fork at Bath Center Cuyahoga River at Old Portage Rocky River near Berea Stream and place Tuscarawas River Tuscarawas Little Beaver Creek Cuyahoga Mahoning River at Creek at Wills Cuyahoga River at Yellow Creek at Yellow Creek at Tinkers Peak stages, peak streamflows, and estimated recurrence-interval ranges at selected USGS streamgages in Ohio, May 18–25, 2004. —Continued 03117000 03109500 04208000 03094000 03142000 04202000 Permanent 04206043 04206212 04206000 04206220 04207200 04201500 , square miles; ft, feet (above gage datum); ft 2 station number Table 3. Table [mi May 18–25, 2004, Flood 17

N/A (years) Estimated recurrence- interval range /s) 3 (ft 2,170 Streamflow

(ft) 7.21 Stage

Maximum during May 18–25 Date May 25 /s) 3 (ft 6,770 Streamflow

/s. 3 /s. 3 (ft) Stage 15.01

a Maximum prior to May 18 1937 year Water Water a 77 record Period of systematic (water years) e (ft) Gage datum 905.00 ) 2 (mi area 273 /s, cubic feet per second; <, less than; N/A, not available; thick lines separate dates of maximum peak] 3 Drainage

Pricetown of determination Stream and place Mahoning River at Peak stages, peak streamflows, and estimated recurrence-interval ranges at selected USGS streamgages in Ohio, May 18–25, 2004. —Continued 03091500 Based on weighted estimates from Koltun and others (2006). A peak stage of 6.63 ft occurred in water year 2003 but is associated with a peak discharge of only 1,630 ft discharge peak stage of 6.63 ft occurred in water year 2003 but is associated with a A of only 6,230 ft discharge peak stage of 13.29 ft occurred in water year 1979 but is associated with a A COE 1912. A water year is a 12-month period from October 1 through September 30 and is designated by the calendar year in which it ends. water year is a 12-month period from October 1 through September 30 and A From topographic map. NGVD 29. Permanent Based on frequency estimates from Ohio StreamStats (U.S. Geological Survey, 2007). Based on frequency estimates from Ohio StreamStats (U.S. Geological Survey, , square miles; ft, feet (above gage datum); ft a b c d e f g h 2 station number Table 3. Table [mi 18 Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519

June 9, 2004, Flood

Storms on June 9, 2004, led to localized flooding on that date in northeastern Ohio. These storms affected northeastern Ohio following a wet April and the second wettest May (fig. 2B) on record for the State (Cashell and Kirk, 2004c) for 122 years preceding this event. These wet conditions likely contributed to the severity of the flooding that resulted from the June 9 storms.

Storms of June 9, 2004

On June 9, 2004, a cold front associated with an occluded mid-latitude cyclone7 centered over northeastern Canada moved slowly southward over the southern Great Lakes. With southwest winds bringing moisture-laden air into the region, moisture convergence over Ohio was high. In the late afternoon and early evening of June 9, a line of severe thunderstorms formed along the cold front and swept across northeastern Ohio. Isolated thunderstorms brought intense rainfall to central and southern Cuyahoga County, northern Medina County, and southwestern Geauga County. Figure 9 shows the 6-hour precipitation totals for June 9 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. based on data from the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) and NWS rain-gage sites. Southeastern Cuyahoga County received the most rain, with 2.23 in. falling in Oakwood for this 6-hour period. Rainfall intensities and recurrence intervals for selected NEORSD sites from this storm are listed in table 4. The time period used in table 4 is variable in order to show the most intense period of rainfall at the selected rain-gage sites.

General Description of the June 9, 2004, Flood

The following sections present information about the flooding that resulted from the June 9, 2004, storms. This section will focus on streamflow and stage at selected USGS streamgages in the affected counties (fig. 4). The omission from this report of any rivers or communities that experienced flooding is not a reflection of the severity of the flooding or the impact on those communities but rather is due to a lack of available streamflow data.

Areal Distribution Cuyahoga, Geauga, and Medina Counties were declared Federal disaster areas (FEMA–1519–DR) as a result of the flooding on June 9, 2004. Table 5 lists the areas affected by flooding and the streams that caused the flooding. Locations of USGS streamgages and streams in the flooded areas are shown in figure 10.

June 11–18, 2004, Flood

Storms between June 11 and 17, 2004, led to flooding in central and eastern Ohio from June 11 to 18, 2004. These storms crossed east-central, central, and west-central Ohio following a wet April and the second-wettest May (fig. 2B) on record for the State (Cashell and Kirk, 2004c). These wet conditions likely contributed to the severity of the flooding that resulted from the June 9 storms.

7 Occluded means that the mid-latitude cyclone is in the final phase of its life cycle. An occluded front marks the boundary between two polar air masses. June 11–18, 2004, Flood 19

OHIO 81°00'

81°30'

82°00'

41°30'

a 2.0 c 1.5

1.0

41°00'

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, variously scaled, State Plane Ohio South 0.5 0.0

EXPLANATION

Line of equal 6-hour total rainfall, in inches 0 10 20 MILES 2.0 Rain gage station name a a - Oakwood (ROA) 0 10 20 KILOMETERS b - Moreland Hills (RMN) c - Independence (RIN)

Figure 9. Isohyetal map of 6-hour rainfall totals from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on June 9, 2004. Based on data collected at 31 rain gages throughout northeast Ohio (Thomas Knight, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, written commun., 2007; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004b). 20 Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519

Table 4. Precipitation totals and recurrence intervals for selected Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District rain gages in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, on June 9, 2004. Station locations are shown on figure 9.

[Data from the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (Thomas Knight, written commun., 2007)]

Station name Period Precipitation Recurrence interval1 Time and location (minutes) (inches) (years)

ROA – Oakwood 17:40–18:40 60 1.83 10–25

RMN – Moreland Hills 17:25–18:25 60 1.93 10–25

RIN - Independence 17:35–18:05 30 1.29 5–10

1From National Weather Service (2007b).

Table 5. Areas and streams affected by flooding on June 9, 2004.

[Data from Angel and others, 2004b]

County Stream(s) Areas Figure

Cuyahoga East Branch Rocky River and its tributaries North Royalton 10 Baldwin Creek North Royalton 10 Chippewa Creek Brecksville, Broadview Heights 10 Data no available Moreland Hills, Solon, Strongsville 10

Geauga Data no available Southwestern part of county 10 Medina West Branch Rocky River, East Branch Rocky River Northern part of county 10

Table 6. Peak stages, peak streamflows, and estimated recurrence-interval ranges at selected USGS streamgages in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, June 9, 2004.

[mi2, square miles; ft, feet (above gage datum); ft3/s, cubic feet per second; <, less than]

Gage Period of Maximum prior to June 9 Maximum during June 9 Estimated Permanent Stream and Drainage datum systematic recurrence- station place of area (ft) record Water Stage Streamflow Stage Streamflow interval 2 number determination (mi ) (NGVD (water yeara (ft) (ft3/s) (ft) (ft3/s) range 29) years)a (years)

Tinkers Creek at 04207200 83.9 876.18 44 1969 10.10 7,220 7.22 2,890 2-5b Bedford

Cuyahoga River at 04208000 707 583.57 77 1959 22.41 24,800 13.67 7,380 < 2b Independence

a A water year is a 12-month period from October 1 through September 30 and is designated by the calendar year in which it ends. b Based on weighted estimates from Koltun and others (2006). June 11–18, 2004, Flood 21

OHIO

81°00'

81°30'

82°00'

GEAUGA

41°30' CUYAHOGA R. Cuyahoga Moreland Hils

Rocky 04208000 # 04207200 Baldwin Cr. # Solon Tinkers LORAIN Broadview Heights Chippewa Cr. River Strongsville East Brecksville

West Cr. Branch Brunswick

Branch N. Royalton PORTAGE

MEDINA SUMMIT

41°00'

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, variously scaled, State Plane Ohio South

EXPLANATION

03159500 0 10 20 MILES # Streamgage and number

City or village 0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Figure 10. Selected areas of northern Ohio affected by flooding on June 9, 2004. 22 Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519

Storms of June 11–17, 2004

For the period from June 11 to 17, 2004, an upper-level trough8 was positioned west of Ohio, allowing the air over the region to rise, which resulted in increased thunderstorm development. Moisture convergence during this time period was also high over the Midwest, providing the moisture needed for large thunderstorms to develop. As this trough moved over and past Ohio on June 18, 2004, thunderstorm development in the region was inhibited by the descending air behind the trough. On June 11, 2004, a stationary front was located over central Ohio. Thunderstorms formed along this stationary front and moved across central Ohio, resulting in 2–3 in. of rain in parts of Darke, Preble, Miami, Greene, Montgomery, Franklin, Coshoc- ton, Muskingum, Perry, and Athens Counties. Columbus, in Franklin County, received 2.89 in. of rain from this storm (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004b). On the morning of June 12, 2004, with a stationary front still spread across Illinois, Indiana, and southern Ohio, a cluster of thunderstorms moved over Ohio from the northwest to the southeast, dumping 1–2.5 in. of rain on much of northwestern, central, and southeastern Ohio. Parts of Monroe County received 2.5 in. from this storm (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004b). On the evening of June 13 and the early morning of June 14, 2004, a mid-latitude cyclone was located over northern Michigan. Ahead of a slow-moving cold front associated with this mid-latitude cyclone, a squall line9 formed over northeastern Indiana and moved southwest across Ohio. This line of severe storms brought 1–2 in. of rain to central and northwestern Ohio, and more than 2 in. of rain fell in parts of Delaware and Richland Counties (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004b). As the mid-latitude cyclone moved northeastward into Canada, its associated cold front stalled northwest of Ohio. On the evening of June 14 and early morning of June 15, 2004, another squall line formed over northern Indiana ahead of the stalled cold front and moved eastward across northern Ohio. On the afternoon of June 15, 2004, a cluster of thunderstorms formed along this cold front as it began to move southward over Ohio. These thunderstorms crossed Ohio between June 14 and 15, 2004, and dropped 1–3 in. of rain on much of northern Ohio, with more than 4 in. of rain falling in parts of Carroll and Stark Counties (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004b). On the morning of June 16, 2004, the mid-latitude cyclone over northern Canada dissipated, and the frontal boundary over Ohio lifted. On the evening of June 16, a warm front associated with a mid-latitude cyclone over Iowa moved northward across Ohio. Thunderstorms formed along this warm front, bringing 0.5–2 in. of rain to parts of western and eastern Ohio. A total of 2.13 in. of rain fell on Cambridge in Guernsey County during this storm (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004b). Storms that moved across Ohio during this week-long period from June 11 to 17, 2004, brought more than 7 in. of rain to parts of Logan, Delaware, Tuscarawas, and Carroll Counties (fig. 11). Figure 11 was created from NWS data (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004b) collected at 141 rain gages throughout Ohio. Rainfall intensities and recurrence intervals for selected NWS sites from this storm are listed in table 7.

General Description of the June 11–18, 2004, Flood

The following sections present information about the flooding from June 11 to 18, 2004, that resulted from storms during that period. This section focuses on streamflow and stage at selected USGS streamgages in the affected counties (fig. 4). The omission from this report of any rivers or communities that experienced flooding is not a reflection of the severity of the flooding or the impact on those communities but rather is due to a lack of available streamflow data.

Areal Distribution The counties listed in table 8 were declared Federal disaster areas (FEMA–1519–DR) as a result of flooding from June 11 to 18, 2004. Table 8 also lists the areas affected by flooding and the streams that caused the flooding. Locations of USGS streamgages and streams in the areas flooded are shown in figures 12–15.

8 An upper-level trough is defined as an elongated region of low pressure at high levels in the atmosphere. 9 A squall line is defined as a linear band of severe thunderstorms that often forms ahead of or along a cold front. June 11–18, 2004, Flood 23

1.0 81° 84° 3.0 3.0 2.0 83° 82°

2.0 4.0 2.0 41° 5.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 5.0 e f 7.0 6.0 5.0 7.0 3.0 4.0 c 5.0 a 6.0 d b 3.0 6.0 5.0 7.0 2.0 40°

4.0 3.0 4.0 4.0 3.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 2.0 39° 1.0

Base from U.S. Geological Survey 2.0 digital data, variously scaled, State Plane Ohio South 2.0 EXPLANATION

4.0 Line of equal 7-day total rainfall, in inches 0 40 80 MILES Rain gage station name a 0 50 100 KILOMETERS a - Leesville Lake b - Delaware Lake c - New Philadelphia d - Bellefontaine e - Wooster Exp Stn f - Louisville

Figure 11. Isohyetal map of 7-day rainfall totals in Ohio for June 11–17, 2004. Based on data collected at 141 rain gages throughout Ohio (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004b). 24 Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519

Table 7. Precipitation totals and recurrence intervals for selected National Weather Service rain gages in Ohio for June 11–17, 2004. Station locations shown on figure 11.

[Data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004b]

Recurrence Period Precipitation Station name County interval1 (days) (inches) (years) Leesville Lake Carroll 7 7.80 50–100 Delaware Lake Delaware 7 7.70 50–100 New Philadelphia Tuscarawas 7 7.59 50–100 Bellefontaine Logan 7 7.18 25–50 Wooster Exp Stn Wayne 7 6.18 10–25 Louisville Stark 7 5.84 10–25

1From National Weather Service (2007b).

Table 8. Areas and streams affected by flooding during June 11–18, 2004.

[Data from Angel and others, 2004b]

County Stream(s) Areas Figure Carroll Sandy Creek Malvern 12 Data not available Carrollton and Dellroy 12 Columbiana Sandy Creek East Rochester 12 Data not available East Palestine, Lisbon, and New Waterford 12 Crawford Sandusky River and its tributaries Bucyrus, Crestline, and Galion 13 Delaware Olentangy River Delaware and Powell 14 Guernsey Wills Creek Byesville and Guernsey 12

Harrison Data not available Bowerston and Deersville 12 Holmes Salt Creek Northern part of county 15 Killbuck Creek Killbuck 15 Walnut Creek Widespread 12

Knox Data not available Countywide 15 Licking Data not available Johnstown 15 Logan Bokengehalas Creek Bellefontaine 14

Noble Data not available Sarahsville 12 Richland Black Fork Mohican River and it tributaries Charles Mill Lake Park and Shelby 15 Data not available Plymouth 15 Stark Sugar Creek Beach City 12 Data not available Wilmot 12 Nimishillen Creek Louisville and North Industry 12 Tuscarawas Tuscarawas River New Philadelphia and Port Washington 12 Walnut Creek Dundee 12 Stone Creek Widespread 12 June 11–18, 2004, Flood 25

81°30'

OHIO

SUMMIT Middle Branch 82°00' Nimishillen Cr. 81°00' STARK RiverNimishillen New Waterford Cr. # 03118000 Louisville Lisbon East Palestine WAYNE Sugar 03117000 # North Industry # Cr. 03118500 East Rochester Sandy Wilmot Beach City # Malvern COLUMBIANA 03121850 03117500 Dundee # Run Fk.# Huff Carrollton Cr. HOLMES Cr. Dellroy #03122500 40°30' CARROLL Walnut New Philadelphia

Cr. 03124500 South Bowerston

Stone COSHOCTON Port Washington HARRISON TUSCARAWAS Tuscarawas # Deersville 03129000

Cr. GUERNSEY Muskingum Cambridge# Leatherwood BELMONT 40°00' 03142000 # Cr. Byesville 03141870

Wills MUSKINGUM Sarahsville

MORGAN NOBLE #03150000

River

39°30'

WASHINGTON Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, variously scaled, State Plane Ohio South

EXPLANATION

03150000 0 25 50 MILES # Streamgage and number 0 25 50 KILOMETERS City or village

Figure 12. Selected areas of eastern Ohio affected by flooding during June 11–17, 2004. 26 Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519

OHIO

41°30' 83°00'

SANDUSKY River # 04198000

SENECA

Sandusky 82°30'

41°00'

CRAWFORD # RICHLAND 04196500 Bucyrus # WYANDOT 04196000 Crestline Galion

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, variously scaled, State Plane Ohio South

EXPLANATION

04196500 0 10 20 MILES # Streamgage and number City or village 0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Figure 13. Selected areas of north-central Ohio affected by flooding during June 11–17, 2004. June 11–18, 2004, Flood 27

OHIO 83°00'

83°30' CRAWFORD

River 84°00' HARDIN

Scioto MARION AUGLAIZE MORROW River Olentangy 40°30' LOGAN Ri. 03219500# Creek Bokengehalas Mill # Creek 03260706# 03225500# SHELBY Bellefontaine Creek 03228750 # # Delaware#03228300 River 03266560 03220000 Powell # DELAWARE CHAMPAIGN UNION # 03228805 03221000 MIAMI

River Walnut

Alum 40°00' CLARK

Big MADISON Mad FRANKLIN MONTGOMERY

84°30' GREENE Scioto

Miami FAYETTE PICKAWAY

BUTLER 39°30' WARREN CLINTON

ROSS

River Great HAMILTON HIGHLAND

CLERMONT PIKE

39°00' Base from U.S. Geological Survey BROWN digital data, variously scaled, State Plane Ohio South ADAMS SCIOTO

EXPLANATION

03146500 0 25 50 MILES # Streamgage and number City or village 0 25 50 KILOMETERS

Figure 14. Selected areas of southwestern, western, and central Ohio affected by flooding during June 11–17, 2004. 28 Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519

OHIO

82°30' 82°00'

Plymouth

ASHLAND Killbuck Shelby Black Fork WAYNE Charles Mill Lake Park RICHLAND Mohican Cr. Salt

MORROW Creek HOLMES River 40°30' Kokosing Killbuck #03136175 #03139000 #03136500 River KNOX

North COSHOCTON

Johnstown Fork

Licking Muskingum South # 03146500 River 40°00' Fork LICKING

MUSKINGUM Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, variously scaled, State Plane Ohio South River 81°30'

MORGAN 39°30' WASHINGTON

EXPLANATION

03146500 0 10 20 MILES # Streamgage and number City or village 0 10 20 KILOMETERS

Figure 15. Selected areas of east-central Ohio affected by flooding during June 11–17, 2004. Flood and Storm Damages Associated with FEMA-1519-DR 29

Flood Stages, Streamflows, and Recurrence Intervals USGS streamgage records were examined to determine which streams were most affected by these storms. The peak streamflows for these streams were compared to the recurrence intervals for streamflows that are reported in Koltun and others (2006). For streamgages that did not have sufficient record to compute a reliable recurrence-interval estimate and so are not reported in Koltun and others (2006), recurrence intervals were estimated by use of Ohio StreamStats (U.S. Geological Survey, 2007). Table 9 lists the peak stage, peak streamflow, and recurrence-interval range for selected USGS streamgages for June 11–18, 2004. For those stations on regulated rivers, a recurrence interval is not given. Record peak streamflow occurred on the Kokosing River near Lucerne (station 03136175) and Mad River at West Liberty (station 03266560). However, these two stations have a relatively short period of record. Of the 25 streamgages for which an estimated recurrence-interval range was computed, 13 had estimated recurrence-interval ranges of less than 2 years and 8 had estimated recurrence-interval ranges of 2–5 years. Although these estimated recurrence-interval ranges indicate that these were small floods, more widespread damage assessments indicate that a majority of the flooding occurred on ungaged streams.

Flood and Storm Damages Associated with FEMA-1519-DR

Although it was not possible to determine an exact value of the damages caused by the flooding, Ohio EMA was able to obtain some estimates of the extent of the damage. According to the Ohio EMA (Kay Phillips, written commun., 2007) flooding for the period May 18–June 21, 2004, resulted in two deaths and damage to or destruction of 3,529 private properties. Damages to public property were estimated to be $16.7 million. FEMA approved nearly $32.5 million of assistance to aid in the repair of both public and private properties. The Small Business Administration approved an additional $11 million in loans to aid with repair of local businesses affected by the flooding. Tables 10 and 11 list the extent of the damages to private and public property. Table 10 lists the estimated damages incurred to private property (Individual Assistance). Table 11 indicates estimated damages to public properties such as city and county buildings, roadways, vehicles, certain utilities, and other publicly owned property. 30 Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519 d d d d c c d d c c c c d d d d d d d < 2 < 2 < 2 < 2 < 2 < 2 < 2 < 2 < 2 < 2 < 2 2–5 2–5 2–5 2–5 5–10 5–10 range (years) 10–25 25–50 interval Estimated recurrence-

/s) 204 529 153 749 3 5,110 6,300 4,230 6,480 4,420 2,580 1,590 1,550 2,670 3,820 3,060 1,640 6,550 (ft 14,000 12,500 Streamflow

(ft) 3.27 5.21 9.5 3.06 6.71 5.89 8.35 8.23 7.74 8.98 5.99 8.73 9.73 8.24 11.23 11.46 11.86 17.15 12.38 Stage Maximum during June 11–18 Date

June 14 June 14 June 15 June 14 June 11 June 12 June 14 June 14 June 14 June 14 June 14 June 14 June 14 June 14 June 14 June 15 June 15 June 15 June 15

/s) 925 3 1,090 6,700 2,470 1,090 9,580 8,200 1,430 4,850 1,200 9,310 (ft 13,500 32,300 38,000 45,000 21,800 25,000 15,000 74,500 Streamflow

g h (ft) 5.16 5.16 8.26 6.80 8.43 6.50 11.20 11.90 30.78 12.17 12.27 18.19 20.30 14.45 12.05 17.40 10.05 14.18 24.60 Stage

a Maximum prior to June 11 year 2000 1998 1952 1990 2000 2002 1959 1959 1997 1997 1975 2003 1997 1959 1941 1959 1959 2003 1913 Water Water a 9 9 5 32 66 65 53 66 64 17 13 14 10 52 92 68 66 85 86 record Period of systematic (water years) b b b b b b f b b b b b f f f f f e b (ft) Gage datum 886.98 775.00 645.99 692.10 676.10 886.98 984.16 779.02 865.14 945 900.99 977.38 955.04 955.00 976.72 702.77 1,065 1,078.00 1,046.60 ) 2 12.3 12.3 59.5 64.9 40.4 36.6 88.8 43.1 (mi area 980 210 147 123 202 537 178 101 253 175 496 Drainage

/s, cubic feet per second; <, less than; N/A, not available; thick lines separate dates of maximum peak] 3

place of Stream and determination at Canton Dam near Dublin Bloomfield East Liverpool Huff Run at Mineral City Huff Little Muskingum River at Creek near Hammondsville Yellow Short Creek near Dillonvale Run at Mineral City Huff Kokosing River near Lucerne Vernon Kokosing River at Mount Licking River near Newark Mill Creek near Bellepoint Creek at Sunbury Walnut Big Alum Creek near Kilbourne Bokengehalas Creek at De Graff Liberty West Mad River at Sandusky River near Bucyrus Waynesburg Sandy Creek at Middle Branch Nimishillen Creek Nimishillen Creek at North Industry Scioto River below O’Shaughnessy Little Beaver Creek near Peak stages, peak streamflows, and estimated recurrence-interval ranges at selected USGS streamgages in Ohio, June 11–18, 2004.

station number , square miles; ft, feet (above gage datum); ft 2 03121850 03115400 03110000 03111500 03121850 03136175 03136500 03146500 03220000 03228300 03228750 03260706 03266560 04196000 03109500 03117500 03118000 03118500 03221000 Permanent Table 9. Table [mi Flood and Storm Damages Associated with FEMA-1519-DR 31 c d d d c d < 2 < 2 N/A 2–5 2–5 2–5 2–5 range (years) interval Estimated recurrence-

/s) 528 3 1,110 2,680 6,820 5,760 3,530 1,750 (ft Streamflow

(ft) 6.37 6.27 9.27 4.11 5.19 12.69 17.01 Stage Maximum during June 11–18 Date

June 17 June 15 June 16 June 16 June 17 June 18 June 18

/s) 3 4,850 1,090 6,460 (ft 19,700 27,000 10,000 47,500 Streamflow

(ft) 5.16 12.05 21.10 15.00 12.70 26.40 14.20i Stage

a Maximum prior to June 11 year 1975 1913 1959 2000 1935 1969 1963 Water Water /s. /s. 3 3 /s. 3 a 9 13 93 65 53 76 44 record Period of systematic (water years) b b b b f b b (ft) Gage datum 900.99 896.24 886.90 792.25 886.98 822.00 788.05 ) 2 64.9 12.3 (mi area 311 567 298 221 464 Drainage /s, cubic feet per second; <, less than; N/A, not available; thick lines separate dates of maximum peak] 3 place of Stream and determination Upper Sandusky Alum Creek near Kilbourne Scioto River near Prospect Sandusky River near Run at Mineral City Huff Sugar Creek at Strasburg Africa Alum Creek at Killbuck Creek at Peak stages, peak streamflows, and estimated recurrence-interval ranges at selected USGS streamgages in Ohio, June 11–18, 2004. —Continued

Based on weighted estimates from Koltun and others (2006). A peak stage of 11.86 ft occurred in water year 1991 but is associated with a peak discharge of 5,690 ft discharge ft occurred in water year 1991 but is associated with a peak peak stage of 11.86 A of 1,630 ft discharge peak stage of 6.63 ft occurred in water year 2003 but is associated with a A From topographic map. A water year is a 12-month period from October 1 through September 30 and is designated by the calendar year in which it ends. water year is a 12-month period from October 1 through September 30 and A COE 1912. NGVD 29. A peak stage of 27.74 ft occurred in water year 1979 but is associated with a peak discharge of 2,150 ft discharge peak stage of 27.74 ft occurred in water year 1979 but is associated with a A Based on frequency estimates from Ohio StreamStats (U.S. Geological Survey, 2007). Based on frequency estimates from Ohio StreamStats (U.S. Geological Survey, station number , square miles; ft, feet (above gage datum); ft a b c d e f g h i 2 03228750 03219500 04196500 03121850 03124500 03228805 03139000 Permanent Table 9. Table [mi 32 Floods of May and June 2004 in Central and Eastern Ohio: FEMA Disaster Declaration 1519

Table 10. Damage estimates for Individual Assistance associated with Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster declaration FEMA–1519–DR. [Source: Kay Phillips, Ohio Emergency Management Agency, written commun., 2007]

County Structures damaged1 Structures destroyed2 Deaths Athens 132 3 0 Carroll 19 0 0 Columbiana 80 0 1 Crawford 144 0 0 Cuyahoga 1,079 16 0 Delaware 154 0 0 Geauga 13 0 0 Guernsey 28 0 0 Harrison 139 1 0 Hocking 21 0 0 Holmes 445 1 0 Licking 43 0 0 Logan 88 0 0 Lorain 406 1 0 Mahoning 6 0 0 Medina 345 2 1 Noble 15 0 0 Perry 57 3 0 Portage 46 0 0 Richland 44 0 0 Stark 12 0 0 Summit 130 0 0 Tuscarawas 56 0 0 1Properties that received damage considered to be repairable. 2Properties that were considered to be a total loss.

Table 11. Damage estimates for Public Assistance associated with Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster declaration FEMA–1519–DR. [Source: Kay Phillips, Ohio Emergency Management Agency, written commun., 2007]

County Estimated damages Athens $72,000 Carroll $126,800 Columbiana $2,531,668 Cuyahoga $3,572,100 Delaware $301,989 Guernsey $951,109 Harrison $2,061,426 Hocking $156,581 Holmes $643,000 Jefferson $319,425 Knox $772,841 Lorain $236,700 Medina $394,500 Noble $237,700 Perry $776,700 Portage $699,136 Summit $2,194,427 Tuscarawas $682,500 References Cited 33

Summary

The passage of several severe thunderstorms over Ohio between May 17 and May 23, on June 9, and between June 11 and June 17, 2004, resulted in flooding and widespread damage throughout much of central and eastern Ohio between May 18 and June 21. From May 17 through May 23, rain was widespread across eastern and central Ohio, with parts of Monroe County receiving more than 5.5 in. of rain from May 19 to May 22. Storms on June 9 were localized to parts of Cuyahoga County, with nearly 2 in. of rain falling in Moreland Hills during a 1-hour period. From June 11 through June 17, rain was widespread across eastern and central Ohio, with nearly 8 in. of rain falling in parts of Carroll County during this 7-day period. The largest estimated flood-recurrence intervals at USGS streamgages for May 18–June 21, 2004, occurred in Summit County, where a 100–500 year flood occurred on Schocalog Run at Copley Junction (station 03115973) and a 50–100 year flood occurred on Yellow Creek at Botzum (station 04206220). Record peak streamflow occurred at three streamgages. Estimated recurrence intervals associated with peak flows during this month-long period were variable, and in many areas flooding is assumed to have occurred on ungaged streams. In all, 25 counties in central and eastern Ohio were declared Federal disaster areas (FEMA–1519–DR) as a result of the storms and flooding between May 18 and June 21, 2004. Two storm- or flood-related fatalities were reported, and an economic impact of more than $43 million is estimated by the Ohio EMA.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks are extended to Kay Phillips of Ohio EMA for her help in providing damage estimates for the counties affected by this flood. Thanks also to Jeff Smith of the Ohio Geographically Referenced Information Program (OGRIP) for providing Ohio Statewide Imagery Program (OSIP) data used to make certain figures in this report.

References Cited

Angel, W., Hinson, S., and Herndon, R., eds., 2004a, Storm data and unusual weather phenomena with late reports and corrections: Asheville, N.C., National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, May 2004, v. 46, no. 5, 586 p. Angel, W., Hinson, S., and Herndon, R., eds., 2004b, Storm data and unusual weather phenomena with late reports and corrections: Asheville, N.C., National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, June 2004, v. 46, no. 6, 450 p. Cashell, D.H., and Kirk, S.C., compilers, 2004a, Monthly water inventory report for Ohio, March 2004: Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water, 4 p. Cashell, D.H., and Kirk, S.C., compilers, 2004b, Monthly water inventory report for Ohio, April 2004: Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water, 4 p. Cashell, D.H., and Kirk, S.C., compilers, 2004c, Monthly water inventory report for Ohio, May 2004: Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water, 4 p. Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2007, Ohio severe storms and flooding, FEMA–1519–DR: Accessed July 19, 2007, at http://www.fema.gov/news/event.fema?id=3044 Koltun, G.F., Kula, S.P., and Puskas, B.M., 2006, A streamflow statistics (StreamStats) Web application for Ohio (2d ed.): U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006–5312, 62 p. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004a, Hourly precipitation data, Ohio, May 2004: v. 54, no. 5, 24 p. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2004b, Hourly precipitation data, Ohio, June 2004: v. 54, no. 6, 22 p. National Weather Service, 2007a, National Weather Service Glossary: Accessed October 9, 2007, at http://www.weather.gov/glossary National Weather Service, 2007b, National Weather Service Hydrometeorological Design Studies Center Precipitation Frequency Data Server: Accessed February 5, 2007, at http://hdsc.nws.noaa.gov/hdsc/pfds/orb/oh_pfds.html U.S. Geological Survey, 2007, Ohio StreamStats: Accessed October 10, 2007, at http://StreamStats.usgs.gov/ohStreamStats/ This page is intentionally blank.