Tuesday-afternoon downpour floods Howland, Niles and Warren

Staff report

HOWLAND

Howland firefighters responded to about 30 calls for help in the Bolindale area Tuesday afternoon for people needing help with flooding caused by the downpour of rain that hit around 4 p.m.

Also hard hit was Niles, where water traveled down the hill at Niles Union Cemetery on state Route 46 and soaked an office building and the Eastwood Arms Apartments.

In Warren, a flooded Pine Street south of downtown required Warren firefighters to use an inflatable boat to remove one person from their car, which quit working in knee-deep water.

No problems were reported in Leavittsburg, which suffered severe flooding two weeks ago when the Mahoning River rose well above flood stage.

In the Bolindale area, which is on either side of Ridge Road, the Howland Fire Department worked until late into the evening to assist residents with flooded basements and to secure their utilities to avoid any additional hazards.

The American Red Cross assisted one family on Orchard Avenue whose home was rendered uninhabitable because of the flooding.

Among the other streets experiencing the most problems were Boston, Valacamp and Crestview avenues.

Other streets hard hit in Niles were near the cemetery, including Frederick and Bowman streets, Gypsy Lane and Shaw Road. On the other side of Mosquito Creek, Helen Avenue suffered water damage.

“We’re still trying to recover from the rain two weeks ago, and there’s no place for it to go,” said Lt. Dave Danielson of the Niles Fire Department.

In addition to Howland, Liberty and Weathersfield townships were among the hardest hit areas covered by the county 911 dispatch center.