1990 – June 14, Flash Flood, Shadyside and vicinity, OH[1] — 26
— 26 NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 32, No. 6, June 1990, p. 8.
— 26 NOAA, Shadyside Ohio.
— 26 Ohio Historical Society. “June 14, 1990: Shadyside Flood.” 4-29-2016.
Narrative Information
NCDC: “Heavy rain falling on already saturated soils caused flash flooding (mainly on the 14th) in parts of southeastern Ohio, the West Virginia panhandle, and western Pennsylvania; however, none was as severe as the flooding which occurred in the vicinity of Shadyside. An estimated 3 to 4 inches of ran fell between 8:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. (EDT) on the headwaters of Wegee and Pipe Creeks; the resultant 10- to 30-foot wall of water which began at the headwaters between 9:15 and 9:30 p.m. reached the Ohio River about 10:00 p.m. Twenty-four people died in the Wegee and Pipe Creek watersheds; two others died in flooding which occurred along Cumberland Run, a small stream on the other side of the ridge separating it from the Wegee and Pipe Creek watersheds. Numerous vehicles were demolished, 80 residences were destroyed, and another 251 homes and businesses sustained damage in varying degrees.
“No official prior record of flash flooding existed along Pipe or Wegee Creeks; however, these streams common to western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The extremely saturated soil conditions prior to the flood event undoubtedly contributed to the immediate runoff and flooding. One interviewed resident described ankle-deep
NOAA: “A deadly flash flood occurred in eastern Ohio near the town of Shadyside on the evening of June 14, 1990. Over 3 inches of rain… fell along Pipe and Wegee Creeks in a short period of time (under 2 hours). There were 26 known deaths in Ohio during this event, of which 24 were along Pipe and Wegee Creeks with the remaining 2 along the Cumberland Run about 8-10 miles west/northwest of Shadyside.
“With the rain falling in such a short amount of time, witnesses reported a wall of water between 10 and 30 feet rapidly moving downstream about 45 minutes after the onset of the heavy rain over the headwaters….
“Shadyside is located in the western foothills of the Appalachians and characterized by small hills with steep slopes and narrow valleys. Most residents lived along the narrow flat land along the creek, adding to the potential danger. About 80 houses were completely destroyed, 79 sustained major damage and 172 houses sustained minor damage.” (NOAA, Shadyside Ohio)
Sources
Associated Press/Rich Harris. “Grief Over Daughter Drives Mother to Suicide.” 11-24-1991. Accessed 4-30-2016 at: http://articles.latimes.com/1991-11-24/news/mn-136_1_disaster-recovery
National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 32, No. 6, June 1990. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Accessed 4-30-2016 at: http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-3DEF0238-200F-4ADD-8D02-DC6A8E62C67B.pdf
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Shadyside Ohio Flooding, June 14, 1990. Accessed at: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/iln/shadyside.html
Ohio Historical Society. “June 14, 1990: Shadyside Flood.” Archived 4-29-2016. Accessed from archive 4-30-2016 at: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:RhlYrnjFy4wJ:ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/swio/pages/content/1990_shadysideFlood.htm+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
[1] Sixteen months later the mother of one of the victims, a girl of 12 years, committed suicide on spot where daughter’s body was found. (AP/Rich Harris. “Grief Over Daughter Drives Mother to Suicide.” 11-24-1991.)