Goshen hit hard by flooding, worst yet to come

by Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

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Kroger store parking lot flooded in Goshen

This Kroger grocery store is among nearly a dozen businesses affected by high water levels in Goshen. Some residents say this is the worst they've ever seen. (WSBT photo)

By Tiffany Griffin

Story Created: Jan 9, 2008 at 11:35 AM EST

Story Updated: Jan 9, 2008 at 5:43 PM EST

GOSHEN — High waters levels are causing headaches for some businesses and homes in Goshen.

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The banks of the Elkhart River are flooding, and rising water is wreaking havoc on parts of Goshen. Parks are under water and the flooding has threatened a shopping center and a number of homes.

Many people say they can't remember when flooding conditions have been this bad. City officials believe the worst is yet to come.

Stacy Leedy of Goshen is one of those keeping an eye on weather conditions. Her home is one of about a half a dozen off Indiana Avenue that is surrounded by waters from the nearby Elkhart River.

“We'll last night it wasn't so bad. But today when I got up, all four sides of my house are covered,” she told WSBT News. “I mean the water has come up all the way to the swing set. We had a pond in our yard — that's full. I could probably go fishing in my yard right now.”

A shopping center, located less than two blocks from her, is also flooded. Several businesses there, including a Kroger store, have been affected.

“I wanted to throw up, is what I wanted to do, to see this situation because it’s not a good situation for anybody,” said the shopping center’s owner Charles Kalwitz. “Businesses are losing money. It’s just not good."

“It went inside through the back of our store but I don't know about the front yet. It’s almost getting there,” said Diana Garcia of the Salvation Army store. “So, we're just waiting to see what happens."

Rogers Park, which is just across the street from the shopping center, is also under water.

“You have a combination: You have flooding from the rising river, and you've got flooding from retention ponds that just can't hold. We've had a lot of snow melt, we had a lot of rain. The ground is saturated,” explained Street Commissioner Barb Ladow.

The Street Department is providing sand bags for affected homes and businesses. You can pick them up at the Street Department, but you have to fill them.

Late Wednesday afternoon, a Level 2 Emergency was declared for all of Elkhart County. Officials are recommending essential travel only.

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