Heavy flooding causes detours in Weathersfield

The fire station will be open 24 hours to help motorists and residents.
By MARY R. SMITH
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MINERAL RIDGE -- As the Mahoning River continues to rise over its banks, some 17 feet above normal as of Wednesday afternoon, it has also cut Weathersfield Township in half.
The police and fire departments officially implemented a disaster plan as of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The Mineral Ridge fire station at the south end of state Route 46, has been open 24 hours a day and will be manned by volunteer firefighters and a police officer to offer directions to stranded motorists or any type of support needed.
Firefighters will also be available to answer fire calls if needed. Residents should call (330) 652-5347 for information.
The Trumbull County 911 emergency center, which was flooded Monday night, is open again for business, fire Chief Randy Pugh said.
Roads closed
All Weathersfield roads that carry heavy trucks are covered with water. The township is divided by the Mahoning River.
A portion of state Route 46 has reopened, but McKees Lane, West Park Ave. bridge, Warren-Austintown (South Main Street), Warren Township Line and Belmont Avenue Extension remained closed this morning. McKees Lane and Belmont were expected to reopen later today.
All low-lying areas are flooded.
The West Park Fire station was closed Tuesday night, and some equipment moved out of it after the Belmont Avenue bridge flooded and 3 feet of water filled the station, leaving the township with fire coverage from the Mineral Ridge station and the McKinley Heights station on U.S. Route 422 at Robbins Avenue.
The township fire station will be set up an as information center about what roads are closed and also to inform major truck traffic coming into the township where to go.
Trucks are being rerouted at the firestation, instructed to go down Salt Springs Road to Interstate 80. "The volume of the Mahoning River has pretty much cut us off from Niles," said township Administrator David Pugh.
Driving through
Pugh said that right now township residents are not evacuating their homes.
"Traffic is our big problem, that's where the tempers are getting strained," he said.
Road closed signs have been posted, yet someone got stuck in water and had to be pulled out in his vehicle Tuesday night. The driver was given a ticket, Pugh said.
Police Chief Joseph Consiglio said that while Niles is taking care of its side of the township, township police have cited 25 people who have tried to drive onto closed roads which are under water. He added that numerous vehicles stalled and had to be towed out.
Truck traffic ,which comes off Interstate 80 at Route 46 and at Salt Springs Road, has also had to be redirected.
The Ohio Department of Transportation could only give the township one sign to warn trucks of road closures; that was placed at I-80 and Route 46.