Today in Wheeling History: February 15--The Ohio River crested at 41.1 feet in Wheeling and flooded lowlands and closed many streets (1966).
The Ohio River was expected to crest at 41 feet in Wheeling on the morning of February 15, 1966, flooding lowlands and closing major highways in the city. Many families were evacuated as the water topped flood stage from Pittsburgh to Wheeling. Wheeling Island felt the initial impact, with basements flooded. While Routes 2 and 7 in West Virginia and Ohio were inundated, detours were available to prevent isolating communities. The Wheeling-Ohio County Civil Defense Office kept officials informed using citizen-band radios, and the Red Cross arranged shelters and supplies. Fulton, Madison, and Linsly Military Academy were among the schools closed. Utility companies disconnected equipment in anticipated flood areas. Wheeling Electric disconnected lines, and Wheeling Steel banked its furnaces in Mingo Junction and suspended Steubenville operations due to the flooding. Specific streets expected to flood in Wheeling at 41 feet were detailed.
Once the Ohio River flood level reached 41 feet in Wheeling, the following locations were inundated: Water Street at 12th, 14th, 21st, 36th, 37th, 45th, and 48th Streets; Wood Street from 38th to 45th Street; McColloch Street at 46th Street; Main Street at 16th, 20th, and 23rd to 27th Streets; Market Street from 24th to 27th and 33rd to 35th Streets; Chapline Street at 28th and 29th Streets and from 35th to 37th Streets; Eoff Street at 28th and 29th, 36th and 37th, and 43rd to 48th Streets; Jacob Street from 40th to 48th Streets; North Front Street at Zane and Cromwell; North Penn Street at Zane, North, and Belle Isle; North Broadway at Zane; North Wabash at Zane, Indiana, New Jersey, Georgia and North Huron; North Erie at Indiana, New Jersey, and North; Ontario at New Jersey; South Penn and Stone; South Broadway and Delaware, Virginia, Fink and Orchard Alley; South Wabash at Zane, Delaware, Virginia, Ohio, and Orchard Alley; South Front and Vermont, Florida, Fink, Caroline and Stone; Florida at Iowa and Iowa and Stadium.
To learn more: (http://tinyurl.com/bfpv4meh) (http://tinyurl.com/mt4k6vvc)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; The Wheeling Intelligencer
The Ohio River was expected to crest at 41 feet in Wheeling on the morning of February 15, 1966, flooding lowlands and closing major highways in the city. Many families were evacuated as the water topped flood stage from Pittsburgh to Wheeling. Wheeling Island felt the initial impact, with basements flooded. While Routes 2 and 7 in West Virginia and Ohio were inundated, detours were available to prevent isolating communities. The Wheeling-Ohio County Civil Defense Office kept officials informed using citizen-band radios, and the Red Cross arranged shelters and supplies. Fulton, Madison, and Linsly Military Academy were among the schools closed. Utility companies disconnected equipment in anticipated flood areas. Wheeling Electric disconnected lines, and Wheeling Steel banked its furnaces in Mingo Junction and suspended Steubenville operations due to the flooding. Specific streets expected to flood in Wheeling at 41 feet were detailed.
Once the Ohio River flood level reached 41 feet in Wheeling, the following locations were inundated: Water Street at 12th, 14th, 21st, 36th, 37th, 45th, and 48th Streets; Wood Street from 38th to 45th Street; McColloch Street at 46th Street; Main Street at 16th, 20th, and 23rd to 27th Streets; Market Street from 24th to 27th and 33rd to 35th Streets; Chapline Street at 28th and 29th Streets and from 35th to 37th Streets; Eoff Street at 28th and 29th, 36th and 37th, and 43rd to 48th Streets; Jacob Street from 40th to 48th Streets; North Front Street at Zane and Cromwell; North Penn Street at Zane, North, and Belle Isle; North Broadway at Zane; North Wabash at Zane, Indiana, New Jersey, Georgia and North Huron; North Erie at Indiana, New Jersey, and North; Ontario at New Jersey; South Penn and Stone; South Broadway and Delaware, Virginia, Fink and Orchard Alley; South Wabash at Zane, Delaware, Virginia, Ohio, and Orchard Alley; South Front and Vermont, Florida, Fink, Caroline and Stone; Florida at Iowa and Iowa and Stadium.
To learn more: (http://tinyurl.com/bfpv4meh) (http://tinyurl.com/mt4k6vvc)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; The Wheeling Intelligencer
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