Severe storms cause minor local flooding
July 5, 2006
Severe storms ripped through the Bowling Green area last Wednesday causing scattered power outages from downed trees. The Regional Airport reported $2 million worth
of damages.
Minor flooding was also reported in several University buildings.
“We were very fortunate as far as serious damage goes,” said Teri Sharp, the University’s director of media relations. “We are very quick to clean up campus after a storm.”
Williams and Eppler Halls along with the Social Philosophy and Policy building experienced flooding in the aftermath of the storms.
The city police worked throughout the night and into the following day, directing traffic where stop lights were out and tending to alarm systems that were activated by power outages, according to Lieutenant Brad Conner.
“The very next day we had the damage under control, we were working feverishly,” Conner said. “We took care of tree limbs that had fallen onto cars across the city, minor basement flooding and sewage issues as soon as we could.”
All of the storm damage at the airport was centralized in three hangars, according to Mike Hodges, airport facilities manager. These hangars store most of the planes at
the airport.
Parts of Lucas County were hit harder than Bowling Green. Toledo was pelted by 5 inches of rain in a five-hour period with 56 mph wind gusts and golf ball sized hail, according to the National Weather Service.
Norwalk and Huron County were among the hardest hit areas. The city’s reservoir overflowed, splitting the city in two, according to an Associated Press Report. The water nearly covered cars and playground equipment in low-lying areas.