Flooding hits Trumbull County apartment complex; more rain in forecast

CHAMPION — Floodwaters came to a Champion Township apartment complex at 3 a.m. today, leading to an evacuation of the four ground-level apartments, but the forecast would suggest it’s not over.

A downpour at a little before 3 a.m. was one of several late Sunday and early Monday, but it was the one that finally caused water to rise 6 to 8 inches into the apartments, said Capt. Don Maffitt of the Champion Fire Department.

A woman called 911 at 3:12 a.m., saying she got up to use the restroom and stepped into the water. Apparently none of the other residents realized what was happening because firefighters had to knock on the doors of the other apartments to alert them, Maffitt said.

The area where the apartments are located has flooded before, with water sometimes making Folsom into a “river,” Maffitt said. Cars in the parking lot were found to be in water several feet deep, Maffitt added.

With more rain in the forecast, Maffitt said he’ll be surprised if those apartments don’t experience another flood as the week progresses.

The apartments are at 274 Folsom Drive on the north side of the road, across Mahoning Avenue from Kent State University at Trumbull.

The American Red Cross came to the scene to assist the seven occupants of the apartment, providing them with vouchures for a hotel room and food.

The nearby McDonald’s restaurant opened early so that the residents had someplace to stay until arrangments were made for them, Moffitt said.

In adjacent Bazetta Township, firefighters were called to Andrews Drive for a flooded basement, according to the fire department. Minor flooding was also evident in some other areas.

The Mahoning River at Leavittsburg reached 9.6 feet at 10 a.m. Monday, That means the river reached flood stage, which is 9.5 feet, the National Weather Service said. The river will drop below flood stage by late Monday afternoon, the NWS said.