WHEELING, W.Va. — With a crest of 42 feet water from the Ohio River covered more than half of Wheeling Island last week. Mayor Glen Elliot said it was a bad situation, but it could have been much worse.
“It didn’t really get into any first floors in the island homes. We got a lot of basements with flooding, but the people who live on the island are kind of used to that,” he explained in an appearance on MetroNews Talkline Monday.
Historic Wheeling Island Stadium was yet again under water with the level reaching the crossbar of the goal posts. Although a tarp was placed on the playing surface prior to the flood, Elliot was unsure if they would be able to save the turf. Similar situations previously resulted in replacement because of bacteria trapped under the field.
Nearby, the Wheeling Island Casino was able to restart operations Sunday.
“The building itself was designed to be out of the floodplain and they do a really good job of cleaning up. I think they had the parking lot mostly cleaned up by Saturday morning,” Elliot explained.
The Mayor also noted Wheeling Creek, which can often back up when the Ohio is swollen, did not cause the kind of damage which is normally associated with an event of this size.
“That 42 foot number is about the limit, if you get up to 43, 44, or 45 it can push the creek back and out of its banks. But I didn’t see any reports of creek damage,” he said.
Water covered the city’s amphitheater on the riverfront however, it’s designed to survive high water. Water Street was close to flooding, but the river crested before it reached any of the main part of town.
The Wheeling Fire Department provided help to residents with basement pumping over the weekend and the city’s street crews continued to move mud and debris out off the area where the flood waters stood. Elliot said those who live along the river realize it’s part of the lifestyle.
“Mother Nature is undefeated in these things. You take what you get when you live in the floodplain on Wheeling Island. It’s just a fact of life,” he said.