Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Monday, May 1, 2017
(DUBOIS CO.) - The Dubois County Commissioners issued a local emergency Saturday morning after parts of Dubois County received in excess of 8 inches of rain since Friday night.
Conservation Officers used an airboat to rescue six teens trapped by rising waters along Old Huntingburg Road in one of the final water-based operations Saturday afternoon.
Matthew Crane of the Dubois Free Press reports, while flash flooding receded and the clouds cleared, rivers and streams in Dubois County continued to rise trapping the teens who were camping in an area between the flood gates on Old Huntingburg Road.
According to Deputy Stewart Wilson, their parents checked on them around 1 a.m. and they were still safe.
However, when the rain stopped and the sun came out, the Patoka River continued to rise as the watershed of hundreds of thousands of acres caught up and the campers became stranded. Fortunately, conservation officers were able to pick them up and bring them out.
Officials made more than 12 water rescue in Dubois County since the sprinkles started a little after 8 p.m. Friday. By 10:30 though, the sprinkles had become torrential sheets of rain. By 11 p.m. the high amount of rain overwhelmed drainage ditches and began to cross roads.
The latest amounts have Huntingburg receiving nearly nine inches of rain; Jasper nearly hit seven inches; and other areas of the county nearly matched Huntingburg's numbers.
Basements, vehicles and roads seem to be impacted the most.
No injuries were reported, according to Dubois County Emergency Management Director Tammy Humbert.
Overnight, Huntingburg streets became rivers of water. Residents on First Avenue filmed a car float down the street and the video landed on Good Morning America Saturday morning.
The wastewater plant, which is surrounded by a berm that was installed due to previous floods, was forced to raise a special gate designed to stop water from entering the plant through its entrance for the first time since it was installed. According to Mayor Denny Spinner, employees of the department reported to the plant before the water got too high and stayed there overnight.
The Huntingburg Street Department was flooded. An employee kayaked out to the department to begin retrieving equipment and vehicles to begin work on the city's streets.
The Huntingburg Church of the Nazarene found their parking lot had received several tons of newly washed gravel as well as an old water heater and a couple of barrels. This morning, Jeff Young said they still weren't sure where the gravel came from but the church had been talking about adding gravel anyway.
If the gravel pockets left on the city's streets could be described as islands left behind by the receding waters, a continent of gravel was on Jackson Street in front of the church.
Also on First Avenue, René Katterhenry opened the door to her basement found water lapping at the first step down. Portions of the foundation broke out and water carried toys and other items that were being stored out onto the yard. At about 10 a.m. the basement was still filled to the brim as Katterhenry waited for her insurance agent to stop by.
Huntingburg's City Hall had water come in its front entrance.
Along Clay Street in Jasper, water covered the road and blocked access to Celebration Ice. The owners were able to make their way to the factory along the railroad tracks to gain access to the company's delivery trucks that were sitting in the flooded loading docks facing Clay.
The Riverwalk was closed due to high water.
Tenth Street had water enter the school and portions of Fifth Street had water standing in the parking lot. The football fields flooded.
Roads closed across the county; at last count, 45 were closed due to high water or damages.
1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com
© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.