Published: January 22, 2008 01:15 pm         

All jammed up

Large ice jam causing Tippecanoe River to rise in Buffalo area

BUFFALO — White County residents might have seen the high-water mark but not the end of the flooding.

On Monday, rescuers evacuated several people from their homes along the Tippecanoe River in the Buffalo area.

“Ice jams are backing the water up, and it’s up to about six feet high or above in the Buffalo area right now,” Gordon Cochran, White County’s emergency management director, said Monday afternoon.

Cochran said water was once again getting into people’s houses. He met with NIPSCO Monday to determine what could be done to resolve the matter, and NIPSCO oficials said they were already doing everything they could at the Norway and Oakdale dams.

“We’re trying to move some water, but it’s not helping,” Cochran said.

The EMA director said he lacked other options.

“We’re not sure what we’re going to do yet,” he said. “It’s kind of a waiting game to see what happens, but they’ve got water north of us and ice up there, too. I don’t know what’s going to happen. We’ve never had this before. Not like this.”

Sustained sub-freezing temperatures are creating large chunks of ice that flow downstream with the current. Just north of the Lowe’s Bridge, the ice is collecting in a jagged pile that stretches from bank to bank. The tension from the water’s pressure can be heard in the groaning ice.

Jim Waldmarson, who llives along the Tippecanoe River near Buffalo, said the water rose drastically overnight. On Sunday, he could see his retaining wall and the steps down to his pier. As of Monday afternoon, all of that was under six feet of water topped with an inch of ice.

“It was fine,” he said. “It was going down, but now it’s come right back up. I thought we were in the clear.”

Water flowed over the dead-end road. While standing at the edge of the river that threatened his neighbors’ homes, Waldmarson explained the layout of the land made unrecognizable by the sheets of ice piling up in the river. As he did, a squirrel scurried across the ice that covered what is normally an island.

The temperature is not expected to get above freezing until Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. The outlook of one to three inches of snow and continued bitter cold in the forecast made Waldmarson less than enthusiastic.

“It just keeps getting better,” he said as he walked to greet a neighbor whose house was surrounded by river water.

The Buffalo Fire Department on Monday morning evacuated resident of the Palmer Addition and along Golden Acres Court as White County EMA made arrangements in case the river continued to rise.

Executive Director Jill Baughman said the Red Cross was continuing its efforts in White County. It has set up a client services center at the Knights of Columbus in Monticello to distribute food, clothing and referrals.

“If people are in need of our service, please contact us,” Baughman said. “We want to make sure that we service the needs of the people who have been affected by the flood.”

The service center will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. Beginning Wednesday, it will move to the Monticello Red Cross office, 1001 S. Main St.

Red Cross opened another shelter Monday at the White County Lakeview Home in Monticello. Baughman is not sure how long that shelter will stay open.

Kae Fuller, director of the home, said the shelter was providing lots of space, food, laundry and a warm place to sleep.

“It’s a home away from home for them right now,” Fuller said.

Fuller expected at least seven evacuees to spend the night. Others arrived at the shelter Monday morning, but went home with relatives. She said that although the county home had been a designated emergency shelter for several years, this was the first time it had been used.

In the meantime, residents are still cleaning up from the flooding earlier in the month. Less than two weeks ago, the Tippecanoe River swelled several feet out of its banks after up to seven inches of rain fell over night in White and Carroll counties. Some roads remain closed, including West Shafer Driver near the Sandbar Restaurant & Lounge.

In an attempt to get federal aid, White County is evaluating the damage from the flooding.

“We’re still in the process of taking declaration forms,” Cochran said.

The forms have to be filled out so FEMA can do a damage assessment. The county also does an assessment to determine how much federal funding will be provided.

To date, the office has completed more than 200 damage assessments.

“And we still got more to go,” Cochran said.

For those who have not received forms and sustained damage due to flooding, the declarations can be picked up at the White County EMA office, Buffalo Fire Station, Liberty Township trustees office, Monon town hall and the White County courthouse.

Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com



Who to call

• For food, clothing and referrals to other assistance, or if you want to volunteer, contact the American Red Cross in Monticello at (574) 583-7982.