Heavy rain that battered central Ohio over the last week flooded one of the oldest neighborhoods in Columbus, submerging residences and local businesses.
At least a segment of South 3rd Street near the Book Loft and Cento restaurant flooded late on Aug. 15 as tornado sirens sent German Village residents seeking shelter. No confirmed tornado touched down in the Columbus area that night, but the ensuing downpour overwhelmed the streets.
A diner posted a video to social media showing water filled up inside part of Cento. A spokesperson for Cameron Mitchell Restaurants confirmed that there was flooding at the restaurant that evening but that it re-opened for dinner service Aug. 16.
Infrastructure in the German Village, one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, is outdated compared with newer areas of the city. In May, a sewer collapsed, causing flood damage in nearby buildings. The Dispatch has reached out to the city about the weekend flooding in German Village.
The 1.26 inches of rain recorded at John Glenn Columbus International Airport over the weekend added to an already soggy August. So far this month, Columbus has recorded 5.37 inches of rainfall this month – well above normal.
Abby Nikiforovs lives close to the area that flooded. Her apartment and car stayed dry, but after the tornado warning passed and the water began to recede, Nikiforovs joined others in pushing stalled cars out of the roadway.
"One of them was in the middle of the road – we were finally able to get the car in neutral, a few of us pushed the car onto a side street so it was out of the way and could be towed the following day," Nikiforovs said.
People tried to help stranded drivers, while other neighbors jumped in to put up cones and direct cars away from the flooded roadway.
"I think it was really beautiful how so many neighbors and the community came out to help each other," Nikiforovs said.
More: Ohio's August rainfall far exceeds normal as unusual pattern lingers
Mike Babcock, an assistant manager at the Book Loft, said in an interview with The Dispatch that water on the carpet on Aug. 16 forced the store to close its lower wing, which includes children's books and graphic novels. However, because of swift work from employees in the leadup to the storm Aug. 15, most books in the store remained dry.
"We got really lucky – our staff was very efficient: Some bookcases got wet, but before the water got to the books, we were able to clear off some of the bookcases with the exception of a handful of books," Babcock said.
With several fans going to dry the lower level, staff re-opened the section to the public on the morning of Aug. 17.
Babcock said he's been working at the Book Loft for over two decades. Leaks can happen in the older building during bad weather, but this latest storm is the most intense he's seen in his time there.
Jason Tullius, the general manager at Stauf's Coffee, said Aug. 17 that staff worked to mop the floors the morning after the storm and the café was fully open to the public. No merchandise was damaged, he said.