Flooding in Bluffton - here's what we know at 11 a.m. - northbound I-75 closed at Bentley Road
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.
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, September 25, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, September 25
- Clay, community, and the classroom
- September 25 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Pirate volleyball loss vs. Crestview
- Pirate girls soccer win vs. Allen East
- Janine Elizabeth (Minnich) Millager, 87, was a lab technician
- Send October 2026 calendar events to the Icon
- New time for Planning and Bluffton Beyond Tomorrow meetings, Sept 29
- Pirate boys golf 10th at sectionals
- Fall Festival activities are all over Bluffton, Sept. 26
Thursday, September 24, 2026
- Marilyn Florence (Brunn) Osting, 94, was a nurse
- Paul Richard Wingate Jr., 79, worked for the Lima Ford Engine Plant
- Ada Icon headlines, Sept. 24
- Roundabouts celebrated for crash reduction
- Scarecrow competition for Bluffton businesses
- Hello, Goodbye: Diphenhydramine for allergies
- 5th Annual MHCO Gala will Roll Out the Red Carpet
- Funeral notice for Mary Louise Reddick
- ODNR urges caution during fall wildfire season
- Nursing student to share clinical research at First Tuesday in the Library
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
- Chamber members take a lesson from Jacomet's Martial Arts
- Proud of your pie? Sept. 26 apple pie baking contest
- Save November 6-7 for Holiday Open House
- Friends of the Library book sale, Sept. 24-26
- Pirate girls golf places 6th at sectionals
- Pirate volleyball outlasts Grove
- Bluffton tennis wins on consecutive nights
- Pirate boys soccer edged by Liberty Center