Mary Rutan Hospital ER reopens after flooding, transfer of critical patients

Mary Rutan Hospital’s ER in Bellefontaine has reopened after flooding forced the department to close and transfer patients to other hospitals Wednesday night, a hospital representative said early Thursday.

Five of the most critical care patients in the ER were transferred to area hospitals because of the “partial flooding” that sent “several inches” of water into some parts of the emergency department, hospital spokeswoman Laura Miller said.

Widespread rain throughout the Miami Valley caused the National Weather Service to issue Flood warnings, watches, and advisories to several counties, including Logan.

>>PHOTOS: Flooding throughout northern parts of Miami Valley

Some ER patients who were not deemed to be critical remained in the ER, said Tammy Allison, vice president/community relations.

Miller, vice president/marketing and communications, and Allison said the hospital does not anticipate any electrical or computer damage because of the flood waters, which did not affect any other part of the hospital.

Urgent Care, for non-life threatening injuries, remained open at least until 10 p.m., Miller said, noting, “we’re kind of going as needed.”

Flooding on streets of Bellefontaine Flooding on streets of Bellefontaine

People who believe they have suffered life-threatening injuries were urged to call 9-1-1, she said.

Employees were called in to help in the cleanup.

Miller said in her 20 years at Mary Rutan, the hospital has never experienced this kind of water anywhere in the facility.

As of Thursday morning, the ER is functioning as normal and patients are able to treated.

ROAD CLOSURES & OTHER PROBLEMS

The constant rain throughout the Miami Valley area Monday and Tuesday has caused roads throughout the region to be shut down because of high water. Here are some of the reports, furnished through the National Weather Service in Wilmington and the Clark County Engineer’s Office:

In Logan County 

• @ 7:04 p.m. Extensive flooding reported on Ludlow and Washington streets, with water reaching houses.

There also are reports that water is moving rapidly through ditches in Bellefontaine.

In Clark County

• Spangler Road between I-675 and Lower Valley Pike in Mad River Twp., and the section of Union Road between Spangler and Lower Valley Pike in Bethel Twp. will remain closed until Thursday.

In Auglaize County

• @ 6:05 p.m. Wednesday: 5 miles south of St. Marys in Auglaize County, water completely covering state Route 364 between Southland and Clover 4 roads, according to the county emergency manager.
• @ 6:05 p.m. Wednesday: 5 miles south of St. Marys in Auglaize County, water reportedly across state Route 219 near the Mercer-Auglaize county line.
• @ 6:05 p.m. Wednesday: 2 miles south of St. Marys in Auglaize County, Koop Road is closed because of flash flooding, the county emergency manager reports.
• @ 12:24 p.m. Wednesday in Sidney (Shelby), Bellefontaine (Logan) and Richwood (Union County), several roads remain closed because of flooding, according to 9-1-1 call center reports.