MUSKINGUM COUNTY, Ohio — Hours of rain, freezing rain, and sleet has led to flooding and an ice jam along the Muskingum River north of Zanesville.
The flooding river prompted a state of emergency and 50-60 residents had to consider evacuation according to the director of the Muskingum County Emergency Management Agency, Jeff Jadwin.
Jadwin has seen some leveling off of the river.
“We are getting good water flow from the downstream side of the jam so that is good news from everyone. The temperatures have warmed up the sun is hitting it right, so that should help move the jam," Jadwin said.
Jeff Hardwick, a local funeral home director, was one of the residents asked to evacuate.
"My family gathered some belongings and left," Hardwick said. "It’s a good thing we did because within two hours we wouldn’t have been able to get out."
The Army Corps of Engineers and the Muskingum County EMA believe the ice jam should break up by Monday or Tuesday. They will be watching for possible flooding south of the area as the warmer weather allows for ice melt.