Rain, wind sweep area

March 11, 2009 12:28 pm

— A strong weather system that swept through Cass and surrounding counties Tuesday added more water to already drenched areas.
Standing water covered many yards and fields. Several county roads remained closed this morning, but no damage from the storm had been reported to the Cass County Emergency Management Agency, according to its director, Alvin Beckman.
Although the rain has stopped, the threat of a downpour had area residents concerned about their homes flooding.
Jack and Ashley Smith spent Tuesday watching the forecast as well as the level of the creek that flows past their property near Twelve Mile. After Sunday’s deluge and the rush to stack sandbags to keep water from the West Branch from entering their house, the Smiths were on edge.
“We have to watch the weather, especially when the creek is already up,” Ashley said.
The Smiths live in a valley bottom. On Sunday, the creek swelled out of its banks and into their garage. It receded the following day, but not enough to remove the sandbags placed by EMA staff and Twelve Mile firefighters.
The National Weather Service predicted the possibility of more than two inches of rain Tuesday and today. Beckman reported that Cass County received more than a half inch of rain overnight, not enough to push the creek into the Smith residence.
Flood warnings remain in place for the Wabash, Eel and Tippecanoe rivers in Cass, Carroll, White and Pulaski counties. The National Weather Service extended the warning through the end of the week.
Some residents along rain-swollen rivers have evacuated their homes.
The Associated Press reported that White County Emergency Management Director Rose Brady was urging residents of flood-prone areas along the Tippecanoe River near Delphi to leave their homes if the water appears to be rising. Both the Norway and Oakdale dams were above flood stage Wednesday morning.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department says a mobile home park in Remington was evacuated overnight. Pulaski County officials say some residents in Star City were helped from their homes due to rising waters.
Residents of Plymouth and Elkhart were filling sandbags as a precaution. Crews in the Fort Wayne area were also preparing for high water.
Beckman advised area motorists to heed high-water signs.
“You don’t know what’s under there so it’s best to find an alternate route,” he said.
Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com

High water
Cass County roads closed as of this morning:
• 200N between U.S. 35 and Royal Center Pike.
• 600N between 100W and 200W
• 800N between Royal Center Pike and 1000W
• 600W between 800N and 1000N
• 800N between 600E and 700E
• 800E between 800N and 900N
• Eel River Road between 600E and 800E
• 250E between 850N and 900N
• 900N between 525W and 625W
Source: Cass County Highway Department

Have damage?
• Residents can report damage to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security at oas.in.gov/hs/dev/flood/public or to the Cass County Emergency Management Agency office at (574) 722-2484.

Photos

FLOODED ROADWAYS: As of this morning, there were nine roads closed in Cass County because of high water. This flooded roadway is on 500E near 525N.

ON A CREEK: Jack and Ashley Smith look at the flooded West Branch flowing rapidly past their property. On Sunday, the creek got into their garage. The water had receded before Tuesday night’s downpour.

READY FOR HIGH WATER: Emergency personnel stacked sandbags around the residence of Jack and Ashley Smith for fear the West Branch would reach their house.