People along Yellow River leaving their homes

by Nora Gathings (hsgathings@wsbt.com)

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The National Weather Service has extended the flood warning in Plymouth until Tuesday and the water could reach record levels. No mandatory evacuations are underway yet, but city officials are urging some people along the Yellow River to leave their homes. (WSBT photo)

By Jim Pinkerton

Story Created: Jan 9, 2008 at 8:39 PM EST

Story Updated: Jan 10, 2008 at 12:16 AM EST

PLYMOUTH — The National Weather Service has extended the flood warning in Plymouth until Tuesday and the water could reach record levels.

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Some homes are under feet of water, and not even sandbags seem to be helping.

Police and city officials decided to take steps to keep anyone from getting hurt. NIPSCO has shut off gas and electric to people living along the Yellow River.

No mandatory evacuations are underway yet, but NIPSCO has been shutting off utilities as a precaution. As a result, city officials went to homes several times today urging people to leave.

"From 9 o'clock to now, it just started coming real fast," said Michelle Weldon, whose home was surrounded by water.

Within hours, River Street owned up to its name.

"It's really stressful," said Weldon.

Weldon watched her mom's basement pump push gallons of water out of the home.

"I have water in my basement. My mom is going to get it in her house already coming through the dining room and kitchen," said Weldon.

And the water is still rising.

"We have stuff hanging up on the garage, in the garage," said Weldon.

Even her pet went to higher and drier ground.

"My cat. It won't come down," she said.

Getting the cat down was the least of her problems. NIPSCO shut off gas to around 40 homes and power to another 10, so police were encouraging the Weldons to leave.

"I'm not going because I'm not much of a crowd person," she said.

"I can understand they don't want to go to a shelter. If they don't want to go to a shelter, they are going to have to find friends and family. If they shut the power off, it's going to be cold and wet in their homes," said Mayor Mark Senter, R-Plymouth.

One block away, people had their fingers crossed, hoping the water didn't reach them.

"I don't like seeing that water behind us but we'll deal with what we have to deal with," said Marcia Pasley.

"If we get two more feet, we are going to be hurting," said Senter.

A Red Cross Shelter has been set up at the First United Church of Christ on Center Street. So far, no one has gone to the shelter, but it will remain open.

Because of the number of roads that are flooded and closed, Plymouth schools will be delayed two hours Thursday to give people a chance to drive in daylight.

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