Upcoming April showers can wash away May flowers as the spring months roll into Athens.
Ohio receives the most rain during March, April and May, increasing the risk of flooding, something Athens already experienced last month. Athens saw 3.65 inches of rain in March, according to the Scalia Laboratory for Atmospheric Analysis.
After heavy rains during Winter Quarter's finals week, the Hocking River swelled to 22 feet, according to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency. The usual height of the river fluctuates between 5 and 6 feet during the months of March and April, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Many area roads were closed because of high water, including State Routes 33 near Nelsonville and 13 out of Athens.
According to the National Weather Service, when the Hocking rises to 22 feet, East State Street and State Route 33 begin to flood. At 26 feet, most of Athens ' including OU ' would be flooded.
Although campus hasn't seen any major flooding in recent years, Emergency Programs Coordinator Jill Harris said OU does have certain measures it has to take.
We monitor river conditions constantly
Harris said. She added that the university is in communication with the Hocking Conservancy District, which works to solve water management problems such as flooding.
One preventative measure taken against flooding was the installation of additional drainage pipes behind Gamertsfelder Hall in Fall Quarter 2006. The work was aimed at adding more drainage capacity to the system already in place. The system empties into the Hocking River, designed to alleviate flooding after heavy rainfall.
Almost two years later, the construction seems to have paid off.
I'm going to knock on wood and say it's doing what it was meant to do said John Kotowski, associate vice president for Facilities. There's now adequate capacity to get rid of the water and to handle present conditions.
Although both Jefferson and Morton hills drain onto East Green, Kotowski said flooding isn't a huge issue.
Six or seven years ago (the university)
working with the city
invested in making improvements on East Green
primarily to take care of water that's coming off of the Court Street area
he said.-
and follow those here on campus
Kotowski said.
Kotowski said it is hard to tell how much rain would flood campus. It depends on factors such as where most of the rain falls, the time period in which it falls, and how much rain there has been in recent days.
We can't tell exactly how much rain it would take
he said. It depends on so many variables G? However
there is potential for the river to rise fairly quickly.
If the river reaches a certain point, the university issues a flood watch or warning. Harris says students can visit the university's Environmental Health and Safety Web site for flood procedures.
Folks should know what their level is and be prepared to elevate their belongings if necessary
