Roseville and Crooksville both received damage from heavy storms and rainfall in August and again in September; both towns are recovering. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

On August 10-11, 2026, the communities of Roseville, Crooksville, New Lexington, Junction City and Corning received 6 to 10 inches of rain in storms with heavy downpours. The record rainfall caused extensive flood damage and upended the lives of hundreds of residents in Muskingum, Morgan and Perry counties. On Sept. 21, 2026, torrential rains struck again, with about 1.5 to 3 inches of rain falling across much of the same area.

Some 50 homes were damaged by the first round of storms and many roads were underwater and closed. High water forced people out of their homes, in some cases permanently. Many residents lost all but the clothing on their backs.

Though there were no official reports of fatalities or injuries from the flooding, approximately 380 people were severely affected by property damage from the storms.

The State of Ohio declared a state of emergency in the area, the Ohio Emergency Management Agency and the Ohio National Guard as well as county and local agencies responded. Numerous local fire departments responded, many with rescue watercraft.

In addition, dozens of private organizations, businesses, schools and churches provided emergency relief supplies, drinking water, clothing and food for days and weeks after the disaster. Organizations including the American Red Cross and Samaritan’s Purse provided assistance, as well as numerous local groups and individuals.

Watch this video about Roseville and Crooksville, Ohio. If the video above does not appear or does not work, please use this link — https://youtu.be/5e7f5wwFj3U

News of the initial phase of recovery may have since fallen from local headlines, but it’s going to take more effort, time and resources for people in these communities to fully regather their lives after the floods. Many people lost furnishings, appliances, clothing and many other possessions in a flood of mud, water and debris.

Many houses and buildings were left uninhabitable, and parts of roads were washed away; bridges, culverts and other public structures were damaged.

The Muskingum County Community Foundation created a fund to provide assistance to those affected by the flooding. Donations to the Community Cares Fund support relief and recovery initiatives identified in partnership with the American Red Cross for flood relief and recovery assistance. Fundraising music concerts have been held to raise money to help residents affected by the floods to recover and rebuild.  

I drove through the communities recently not to be a “disaster tourist,” but to hopefully help provide some support for them. Travelers along SR 93 near the two towns would find it difficult to see damage from the flooding two months ago.

View this video of flooding from a local resident on August 11 in Crooksville and Roseville. (Source: Spartan Elite43 on YouTube)

But on some streets, it’s clear that houses have been ruined and abandoned; their prospects for repair and restoration is unclear. Some streets are still blocked off while bridges receive repairs.

These communities have rich histories. Roseville was settled along Moxahala Creek as early as 1804 and was incorporated in 1840. Due to rich clay deposits, water, railroad access and other resources, the pottery industry boomed in both towns from the late 1800s into the mid-1900s.

The Roseville Pottery Company was founded in 1890; the Ransbottom Pottery Company was founded in 1900; and the Nelson McCoy Pottery Company was founded in 1910. Crooksville, founded in 1874, was once the home of the Hull Pottery Company, begun in 1905, as well as the Crooksville China Company. Burley Clay Pottery, founded in 1923, continues today to create garden stoneware such as birdbaths and planting pots.

All but Burley have long since closed up shop, but the pottery they created over the years is much sought after by collectors. It’s rare, for instance, to see an episode of the PBS show Antiques Roadshow without having a piece of Roseville pottery evaluated by an expert.

The Clay Center of Ohio pottery museum is located along SR 93 near Roseville, and the Crooksville-Roseville Pottery Festival is held each July to celebrate the towns’ pottery tradition.

Ken Drenten is creator and editor of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

Share Dusty Tires with a friend; your likes and comments are appreciated. Be sure to check out the Dusty Tires YouTube channel. And subscribe to Dusty Tires and receive a weekly email with the latest blog article. It’s free!

Copyright 2026, all rights reserved Dusty-tires.com.