LEETONIA Officials assess flood damage

The dams were not structurally damaged, the administrator said.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LEETONIA -- Improvements to the earth and concrete dams at High Street in the village top the list of repairs needed from the recent flooding.
Gary Phillips, village administrator, and Tom Long, street department superintendent, met with Tom Yost of FEMA on Tuesday and Wednesday to look at flood damage.
Phillips said village crews can make needed repairs, then seek reimbursement from FEMA. Phillips also met Wednesday with John Vollnogle of Howells and Baird engineers of Salem to look at ways to improve the High Street dams.
The dams help slow and control the flow of water to a 36-inch pipe that directs the storm runoff into the Little Beaver Creek, he said.
Storm runoff flows downhill from the north side of the village, he said.
Weren't washed away
Phillips said contrary to rumors flying about town since the Aug. 9 storm, the dams were not washed away. The dams are structurally sound, he said.
FEMA officials have said the area received 3 to 5 inches of rain in two hours Aug. 9.
"There was just too much water," Phillips said. "No system can handle that."
Phillips said village crews are also making repairs to culverts on Washington, Oak and Vine streets and Coal Alley. Ditches also washed out on Washington Street, and berms need to be rebuilt, he said.
Excessive rains and flooding also washed out some nature trails in the Cherry Valley Coke Ovens Park, he said.
tullis@vindy.com