Streets and basements flooded as Kent and Ravenna are once again hit by rain and wind
The Kent and Ravenna areas, which were hit hard by the storms on August 8, were flooded again on Saturday evening. People were trapped in their cars because of the flooding and numerous homeowners had to drain water into their basements.
Ravenna Mayor Frank Seman said he couldn’t remember ever seeing so much rain at once.
“I’ve lived in Ravenna all my life and I don’t remember ever experiencing storms like this,” said Seman, who added that his own business was under about four inches of water. The water receded after the rains stopped, but his basement was damp.
Seman said security forces responded to about 30 emergency calls to help people who were trapped in their cars after they went underwater.
“Police and firefighters have been pulling people out of the water,” the mayor said. “They drove their cars in and then they stopped. The rule of thumb is that you don’t drive into the water like that, but the truth is that you can’t drive out of the water like that.”
The heavy rains overwhelmed the city’s sewer systems, Seman said. “That’s a lot of rain at once. The gutters were so full that they couldn’t handle it. Most pipes and gutters are designed for normal storms.”
Seman said he would soon meet with the city’s service director to assess the damage. He urged residents to call city hall if their property was damaged by flooding.
Ravenna Township Trustee Vince Coia said he was out of town when the rains started, but returned home to find a pile of debris in his driveway.
“I heard we had 3 inches of rain,” Coia said. “I saw on social media that the township fire department was out to help with the situation in Cotton Corners where there was flooding. There were calls about debris in the road as usual. I know our road department had to close some roads that usually flood when there is a lot of rain in a short period of time.”
Coia said many residents, including his neighbor, reported water entering their basements, but he said he has not had this problem in his home.
Residents in the area may need to brace themselves for more rain. According to the National Weather Service, there is a 70% chance of showers and thunderstorms Sunday afternoon, with a 60% chance in the evening. There could also be some rain Monday morning, with a 40% chance of rain before noon.
