Defiance swamped by drenching rains

DEFIANCE, Ohio (AP) - Flooding is again causing trouble in Defiance where heavy rains in the last 24 hours have forced many out of their homes and led to dozens of road closings.

One of the hardest hit areas is the town of Defiance where the Maumee and Auglaize rivers join together.

"The homes that we're concerned about are in Kingsberry area and Riverside Avenue," EMA Director Julie Rittenhouse told LIV-TV sister station WANE.com in Fort Wayne.

Officials say about 60 homes in Defiance County have been swamped, forcing people in those neighborhoods to seek higher ground.

The Maumee River is expected to top out Wednesday afternoon at eight feet above flood level.

"Ya know. This happens," said Defiance resident Rebecca Osborn. She's seen the Auglaize flood year after year. This year is no different.

"There's really not any reason to leave, unless the electric goes out or something and I have to leave. And then they'll come up and get a boat and make me leave."

Osborn also said her house sits higher than her neighbors'. One house on Auglaize Avenue sits like an island surrounded by water. The family living there opted to tough it out and stay in their home, hoping sandbags will do the trick.

"The volunteer connection came in today with 30 volunteers. And we filled about 500 sandbags," Rittenhouse said. "We've given away about 200 sandbags so far."

There is some good news though.

The heaviest rainfall stayed away from areas along the Blanchard River that already were flooded over the weekend. High water in the Village of Ottawa and nearby Findlay is dropping steadily.

(LIV-TV sister station WANE.com contributed to this report)