A flood in Ohio has forced evacuations , the Associated Press reports. Lake County  is about 20 miles east of Cleveland. I have relatives in the area, and they report two feet of flooding in the basement. Fortunately, they do not face evacuation. Yet.

We invite people from the area to give their account of events. Anyone who knows someone in the affected area is welcome to post info as well.

Mentor, Ohio has become a focal point for national reporting on the flood. Jim Smith is a Credit Manager in our office there. He writes:

"This morning was not as exciting as it may sound on the news. I come to work from Madison, Ohio, about 30 minutes east of where I work at Mentor 479. The Giant Eagle and Marc’s grocery stores in Madison had water about 2 feet high in their parking lot and in the stores themselves. On my way through Perry and Painesville the roads were flooding over and no one could get through. The Grand River was completely overflowing, and from what I hear the boats that were docked in it were washing down river toward Lake Erie.

"I’ve lived in Lake County for 20 years, and I have never seen rain last that long or the post residual waters that high. It was pretty incredible.

"In Painesville, where the river has many turns, you could see how much wider and higher the water was than usual. I would say the Grand River is running about 5 times wider if not more than it usually does. The 2 coast guard choppers and a couple news choppers were doing whatever they could to shed help or light on the situation.

"I even saw a guy canoeing around in someone’s back yard. I would say that the water on a few of the streets was 6 to 12 inches high.

"I feel for the people whose basements and houses were flooded. I can’t imagine the total dollars in damages that will be incurred here. That water has even been so strong that it has eroded and taken out portions of concrete from some of the streets. I saw an 8 foot diameter portion of road right by a creek taken completely out in Painesville.

"This morning I had to park at a Panera Store and walk about a half mile to work because the road into work was flooded out with about 2.5 feet high of water. I think it’s important for us to be here at work for the customers in case we can help them from a financial standpoint. I’m sure a lot of people are going to need some short term funds to fix all the damages.

"I do hope that people don’t try to drive in those flooded zones because cars can be washed away and lives can be lost. The authorities have recommended that people stay in their houses and off the roads.

"We have harsh winters up here in the Snow Belt, and we have all the four seasons, but I don’t think a lot of these people are as prepared as they think they are when natural disasters like floods take place. This is a tough county, with tough towns, and I can say that no one is crying about it, they are just working hard to help out and clean up the mess.

"Thanks and I hope this gives everyone a little insight into what is going on."

James B. Smith IV
Wells Fargo Financial