PHOTOS CONTINUE TO BE ADDED AT BOTTOM OF STORY
10:53 a.m. Nixle Alert: College Ave, Main St, Cherry Street, Jefferson St. Riley St., North bound I-75 are all closed, Water still rising. Sand bags are available at the EMS building. DO NOT drive in standing or running water.
With 3.34 inches of rain from Friday to Monday – according to Guy Verhoff, Pandora, weather observer – area streams are over their banks.
The Big and Little Riley through Bluffton are no exception. Bluffton emergency services had prepared for the flooding, as announced by Rick Skilliter, Bluffton police chief, at Monday’s council meeting.
At 7:53 a.m. today the police department Nixle messages warned residents: “Advisory: College Ave. is flooded. Cherry St. is just now flooding. Prepare for moderate flooding. Many streets will likely be impacted today. Do not drive through water.”
At approximately 9:45 a.m. the northbound Interstate 75 lane was closed due to high water, according to Denny Morrison. The southbound lane was wet but passable.
Flooding has closed the following streets:
• North Main at China Wok and Mustard Seed Café
• Vance Street entirely closed
• Cherry Street at Vance
• East College Avenue at Harmon Field
• Triplett Drive near College Avenue
• West College Avenue at the Snyder Circle on Bluffton University campus
• The village park off County Line Road
• Buckeye park is entirely underwater
Watch for additions to this list as the day progresses.
