Wellsville Fire Department, Wellsville Volunteer Fire Department, Highlandtown Volunteer Fire Department, Liverpool Township Volunteer Fire Department and Wellsville Police Department along with members from East Palestine Fire Department, Columbiana County Emergency Team and the Ohio Military Reserves were on hand to help control traffic, close the road and erect the flood gate on Wells Avenue.

Prime Towing provided the departments with a skid steer to move the timbers for the flood wall and sand for the sandbags was purchased from DW Dickies.

Work began shortly after 5 p.m. and the flood gate was expected to be erected by approximately 8 p.m.

While the Ohio River had not yet reached the point of possible flooding, according to Wellsville Fire Chief Barry Podwel, the need to put up the flood gate was determined based on rate of rise for the river.

Firefighter Andrew Gibbs, Wellsville Volunteer Fire Department, helps lift the tarp used to prevent water seeping through the flood gate into place. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

The river had risen approximately 2 inches — from 9 feet, 5 inches to 9 feet, 7 inches — in about five minutes around 5:37 p.m. Wednesday night.

Podwel said they typically don’t start putting the flood gate up until the river reaches about 14 feet deep, but firefighters from the department who had been monitoring the river earlier on Wednesday afternoon recorded the river rising every 10 minutes averaging to rising one foot every hour.

Following a meeting early Wednesday afternoon with Peggy Clark of Columbiana EMA and the National Weather Service of Pittsburgh who are predicting the river to crest in Wellsville at 14 feet today, Podwel said based on that information and the rate of rise he decided to put the gate up Wednesday night.

The chief also noted that 14 feet is considered a moderate flood state and at around 19 feet the water is onto the bridge and coming across the roadway. That is a possibility if there was any more rain on Wednesday night or toay.

Another reason Podwel gave for not wanting to wait to get the wall up is because many of the firefighters helping from other departments and many of the volunteers have day jobs, so he thought the evening was the better time to do it when people were more available to help.

Firefighter Mark Broughton, Wellsville Volunteer Fire Department, helps guide a plank into position on the flood gate. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

According to Podwel, the NWS said in the meeting that after the river crests it could come down quickly, but that more rain is predicted

As for when the flood gate would down, Podwel said that is a judgement call and will depend on how much more it rains. The earliest it could come down would be tonight, but Podwel is doubtful about that and anticipates possibly some time on Friday.

The last time the village had to erect the flood gate was in the fall of 2004 and again in the spring of 2005. It was almost needed in 2018.

Firefighter Mark Broughton, Wellsville Volunteer Fire Department, helps guide a plank into position on the flood gate. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Firefighters from multiple departments work to slide a timber for the flood gate into the correct position. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Firefighters Mike Utt, Highlandtown Volunteer Fire Department, and Chad Elliot, Wellsville Volunteer Fire Department, guide a timer into place for the flood gate. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Firefighters from multiple stations work to anchor a support beam for the flood gate. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Firefighters work to remove the covers for the anchor points of the flood gate. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

Firefighters from multiple departments work in the rain to place planks to be covered by a tarp in place for the flood gate. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)