Public Warned about Possible Slippage During Flooding

An area along the walking path in Pomeroy, Ohio has been roped off where a culvert has collapsed. Since the photo was taken, the sidewalk has now been roped off as well. Photo by Carrie Gloeckner.

POMEROY, Ohio – As the Ohio River is rising, officials are advising the public to stay away from areas roped off in the Pomeroy Parking lot and along the walking path.

A notice was issued on the Pomeroy Police Department Facebook page late on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018 warning the public about the roped off areas. The following notice was posted, “Warning to all Pomeroy residents and tourist, please stay off the roped off parking lot area, the parking lot may wash away with the increased level of the river!”

The parking lot has been of concern for years and is to be repaired in a project of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. The project will address other areas of possible slippage and concern up river from the parking lot as well. One area has already started to slip. Late Friday afternoon, an area around a culvert began to give way along the walking path. The sidewalk is visibly bowing and sinking.

Pomeroy Mayor Don Anderson was surveying the situation along with calling in others to access the slip. Mayor Anderson told the Meigs Independent Press that the roadway is not in danger at this time. He said until the waters recede it will be difficult to tell the extent of the damage from the culvert failure. Village officials will be keeping an eye on the situation throughout the night as the Ohio River continues to rise.

The project to be completed by the Army Corp of Engineers has all local funding in place. The hold up currently is the passage of the federal budget for the Engineers to have their funds allocated to begin the project.

The Ohio River is expected at least to reach into Main Street before cresting, covering the parking lot.