A natural catastrophe that swept through a portion of Chillicothe more than a century ago that left 18 people dead and thousands of homes damaged is being remembered by city leaders.
Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney on Tuesday issued a release on the great flood that swept through the city in the early 20th Century.
Back on March 26th of 1913, Chillicothe saw the Scioto River rise nearly 40 feet above its flood plain causing widespread damage to eight square miles of the city with water levels ranging from a few inches to twenty feet. In the end, the waters claimed 18 lives and flooded roughly 2,800 homes, displacing approximately 5,000 residents.
The 1913 flood led to the construction of the Chillicothe flood wall in the late 1970s. The massive piece of infrastructure prevents potential high water levels from entering residential neighborhoods and commercial areas.
The flood wall features three flood gates that close off High, Bridge and Main streets in the event of high water. There are also four large storm water pump stations along the wall to keep the city dry when river water is above its normal level.
Staff from the Chillicothe Engineering Department monitor the flood wall year-round with assistance from the US Army Corps of Engineers. Together they work to ensure the integrity and function of the flood wall infrastructure.