Hurricanes Still Strike Far Inland as Ohio

As the 2007 hurricane season commences, millions of people in hurricane-prone areas of the country are preparing themselves. No one wants to be caught unawares when another Hurricane Katrina arrives on their doorstep. However, not all those who are so diligently preparing live in our coastal regions. The residents of tiny Marietta, Ohio stand ready. Three years ago, as the remnants of Hurricane Ivan tore through the country, the waters of the Ohio rose to almost 45 feet, a solid ten feet above flood level, according to Marietta College records. The first seven streets of downtown Marietta were covered in waist deep water, and the people who live there have not yet forgotten the tragedy.

Hurricanes that move inland can cause a great deal of damage and flooding, and although they weaken as they move inland, they can affect areas hundreds of miles from the coast. This was the case with Ivan and Marietta. It had been forty years since Marietta experienced a similar flood, and as the waters began to rise, most residents were not terribly concerned. Usually water rose just enough to frighten those with businesses located on the waterfront, before reaching plateau and gradually diminishing. This was not the case in 2004, however.

A week before Hurricane Ivan was first spotted by meteorologists, Marietta was holding its annual Sternwheel Festival, which celebrates the history of the river and of the steam driven paddle-wheel boats that once navigated it. The celebration, usually held on the waterfront, had to be moved to nearby Green Street, as the grassy area usually reserved for seating was underwater. Recent rains had caused mild flooding, and the Festival was graced with fewer boats than usual due to the dangerous currents.