Auglaize, Mercer declare state of emergency

UPDATE @ 9:59 p.m. June 18:

Auglaize County commissioners earlier today declared a state of emergency due to ongoing flooding issues as rain continues to threaten the area.

They joined Mercer County officials, which declared a state of emergency Wednesday afternoon.

The declaration allows county Emergency Management Agency staff to go directly to the state EMA for assistance and resources once local capabilities are exhausted, Mike Robbins, Mercer County EMA director, said Wednesday.

UPDATE @ 9:31 p.m. June 17:

Grand Lake St. Marys continues to rise, slowly, but the St. Marys River seems to be leveling off and could crest at about 10 feet sometime early Thursday, said Mike Robbins, Mercer County Emergency Management Agency director.

On the south side of the lake, there was some sandbagging being done, he said. On the St. Marys River, the water level was 14.65 feet at 8:30 p.m., but “it’s definitely starting to level off.”

The rising Beaver Creek, a tributary of the lake that flows into the Wabash River, is causing some roads west of Celina to close, Robbins said.

He said the state of emergency will continue until further notice.

FIRST REPORT

Mercer County commissioners on Wednesday afternoon have declared state of emergency because of flooding as rain continues to threaten the area.

Mike Robbins, Mercer County Emergency Management Agency director, said the declaration enables the county EMA to go directly to the state EMA for assistance and resources once local capabilities are exhausted.

At this point, Robbins said the county needs additional road closure and high water signs, and may seek assistance to get more signs.

Robbins said it has been at least eight years since a state of emergency was declared in Mercer County.