It was called the storm of the century. It was the worst flooding from the Blanchard River in almost 100 years. In August 2007, heavy rains poured into the river that runs through the heart of downtown Findlay. The Blanchard crested over 18 feet; that's about 9 feet above flood stage. The entire city suffered damage. Hundreds of homes and businesses were evacuated.
One man went out and bought a boat to bring back his 13-year-old Rottweiler. "The house has got a foot and a half of water all the way around it. The city sewer is backed up. Backed up into people's basements," said Charles Whitely back in 2007.
The 2007 flood destroyed homes turning lives upside-down. But Holly Benard told 13abc that on that catastrophic day, she's simply happy to be alive. "I am very lucky. If they weren't there, I don't know what would've happened," she said.
The 15 year old tried to brave the waters on foot and got caught in the current. "I go to cross East Main Cross and the current got too strong. The water was up to here. I had to grab onto a pole, and I had my bag on top of my head, grabbed onto this pole and they came by and I yelled for help," says Holly.
Jon Tornow says, "She was holding onto a pole down by Sprint Auto Sales. She was yelling for help, so we drove down there and picked her up."
Nearly 4 years ago, it took days for waters to recede and much longer for residents to clean up. Officials have been working since that 2007 flood to better prepare for and prevent flooding in the Findlay area.
