As record-breaking rainfall begins to wind down, residents around the city are now fighting the effects of historic flooding while a pandemic is ongoing. The floodwaters have begun to recede and the worst of the storm has passed, but more rain is expected to continue throughout the week.
The deluge started Monday and continued throughout Tuesday morning, smashing previous records and leaving damage in its wake.
To fight the surge of water, the Columbus Department of Public Utilities activated the floodwall on the city’s south side. According to CPD’s traffic unit, the city has activated or partially activated the Greenlawn Floodwall twice in the past four years.
The floodgate at Greenlawn Avenue is fit together piece by piece, with crews building the wall to prevent floodwaters from the Scioto River crossing into Franklinton, a neighborhood with a deadly history of flooding.
5/19/20 9:10pm: I-71 N/B & S/B remains closed between SR 104 & I-70 due to flooding. Greenlawn between Front & Harmon, and Harmon between Frank & Hart, remain closed due to flood wall gates being partially installed.
🚨Closures likely to remain in place overnight & into tomorrow https://t.co/I1qumQYh5Q
— Columbus Division of Police (@ColumbusPolice) May 20, 2020
The Columbus Division of Fire was dispatched to Stormcroft Ave. to help with early morning evacuations on Tuesday. Residents were moved through waist-high water from their flooded homes to higher ground via boats. The American Red Cross was on hand to help them find temporary shelter in hotels, as well as to help with the recovery process.


On Monday, record rainfall totals were recorded. Columbus saw 2.33” of rain, smashing the old record of 1.47” set in 1927 and coming in at the second-highest daily total for the month of may in recorded history (1878-2020.)
Monday 5/18 rainfall records: 🌧️🌧️🌧️
Columbus (CMH): 2.33", breaking the old record of 1.47" set in 1927. 2nd highest daily total for the month of May in recorded history (1878-2020).
Cincinnati (CVG): 1.72", breaking the old record of 1.58" set in 1929. #ohwx #climate— NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) May 19, 2020
By early Tuesday morning, Columbus had surpassed the daily rainfall record for May 19 with 1.5 inches, beating the previous record of 1.49 inches set in 2017.
Heavy rain caused flooding on parts of @OhioState Columbus campus including near the Drake Performance Center (pictured), Cannon Drive and Tuttle Park Place near the RPAC. pic.twitter.com/cx5lFyY7vP
— Ohio State A&P (@OhioStateAP) May 19, 2020
The damage was widespread around Central Ohio. From road closures to flooded basements, residents in Bexley, Westerville, Worthington, and Clintonville reported major issues. Delaware, in particular, faced damage to businesses and homes.
Two months ago, many Central Ohio residents were facing the same daunting task of cleaning up after another heavy rainfall event. Many blame the City of Columbus and the sewer system that’s in place. But a representative from Columbus Public Utilities told Fox28 that no sewer system would be able to handle five inches of rain in one night. He said the city received 4,000 calls in March during the previous rain event and that work to the city’s sewer system is ongoing.
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For information about Flood Relief through the American Red Cross, you can visit their website here.