COLUMBUS, Ohio — A floodwall was activated in Columbus on Saturday as central Ohio continues to see steady rainfall this weekend.
The wall was installed at Greenlawn Avenue and Harmon Avenue near Interstate 71 due to continued heavy rainfall. The wall is in the Franklinton neighborhood.
The city said motorists should avoid the area.
The last time the floodwall was activated was last April.
The city announced road closures due to the floodwall activation.
- Greenlawn Avenue is closed between South Front Street and Harmon Avenue
- I-71 ramps to Greenlawn Avenue are closed
- Harmon Avenue is closed north of Frank Road
These closures are expected to last through at least Sunday afternoon, the city said.
Several roads across Ohio are closed due to high water. See a list of current flooded roads to avoid here.
Flood warnings and watches are in effect for central Ohio this weekend. You can view the full list of weather alerts here.
There is usually an uptick in car crashes during heavy rain events due to hydroplaning. This occurs when your tires are moving over a wet surface too quickly so that your tires lose contact with the road.
The best way to prevent this is to drive slowly during heavy rain events and to make sure your tire tread is thick enough.
Tire pressure that is too high or too low can also increase the risk of hydroplaning.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it’s important to drive slowly in the rain.
It becomes harder to control your car when the road is slick. Be sure to increase the distance you follow behind other vehicles as well.
NHTSA also suggests remembering the phrase, “Turn around, don’t drown.”
When you see that a road is flooded, or if there are barriers blocking the road, turn around.
It’s also important to stay informed. Monitor road conditions through OHGO, your local sheriff’s department or by tuning into 10TV News.
