by Katja Esser

Heavy rain was causing problems around the Bellbrook and Dayton area in August 2026. In Greene County, part of Darst Road in Beavercreek was washed away and state route 725 between Penewit Road and Lower Bellbrook Road was also closed.

This is not a new problem for Bellbrook. In 2020, almost four inches of rain caused a road and culvert on North Belleview Drive to collapse. According to WHIO, “If you have standing water on the roadway, even if it appears to be a low amount, do not drive through it,” Beavercreek Township Fire Captain Andrew Brewer said.

Anastacia Shupe is a local school bus driver who got stuck in the high water on her way to work. “I was so scared and I had to call my husband to help me get out,” Shupe said. When she finally made it to the school, the flooding forced her to take a completely different route with her bus. “It was really complicated,” Shupe said.

According to Daytondailynews.com, “We are seeing more rainfall and the intensity of storms increasing,” Mike Ekberg of the Miami Conservancy District said. 

Bellbrook has worked on stormwater problems to help with heavy rain. The city has worked on roads, culverts and other systems to move water away from roads and homes.