Jody Wilcox, front left, and Brian Leslie right, place sandbags around the Garro Street home of Wilcox's mother Evelyn Riley's home Tuesday afternoon in Plymouth. In the background is Mrs. Riley, left, and friend Phyllis Sickman, right. (Tribune Photo/BARBARA ALLISON)
Story Created:
Mar 11, 2009 at 5:36 AM EST
Story Updated:
Mar 12, 2009 at 3:49 AM EST
Area lakes and rivers continued to rise early Wednesday, with some waters not expected to crest until Friday.
As Plymouth and Elkhart residents filled sandbags and prepared for flooding with an anxious eye on the rivers, authorities said some evacuations were required overnight in a few areas to the south.
The American Red Cross has set up an emergency shelter at the First United Church of Christ at 321 N. Center St., Plymouth.
Pulaski County said some residents of Star City, south of Winamac along U.S. 35, were assisted in leaving their homes because of the rising waters. The 911 center said some rural addresses closer to the White County line also were evacuated.
In White County, emergency workers evacuated some families living along the Tippecanoe River south of the Norway Dam in the Monticello area, according to Patrick Murphy, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service office in Syracuse.
No area dams or levees were reported endangered, he said. But floodwaters continued to rise there and elsewhere. Whitley County dispatch said a handful of people had been helped from their homes near Shriner Lake, after waters flowed through their homes.
Across the county, there was water "everywhere" with a second trouble spot along Indiana 5 at South Whitley.
Fulton County authorities said flooding along the Tippecanoe River was worse than last year's and some evacuations also were required there, but no details were available.
Too many roads to list were impassable, and the 911 center was busy working on maps to assist in rerouting emergency responders heading to calls.
Pulaski authorities urged motorists to be aware of the possibility of washed-out roads as they travel. And there were some travel problems closer to home, too.
In St. Joseph County, crews were barricading an area near Patterson and Dogwood because of a fallen utility pole shortly after 6 a.m. Another spot, however, was already cleared up after a tree fell overnight at Locust and Roosevelt roads.
And a caller to the 24/7 News desk from Mishawaka said river waters had flooded Beutter Park and submerged the foot bridges. The city had no reports of damage.
Reports of street closings and high water spots from various agencies
St. Joseph County
Prairie between New Energy and Olive
Riley Road between US 31 and Mulberry Road.
Berrien County
7000 block of Cleveland
500 John Beers Road
Intersection of Hollywood and Hinchman
Park Road between Naomi and Watson roads
Cass County
Michigan 60 south of Cass
Elkhart County
County Road 1 between 130 and 30
County Road 30 between 1 and 3
County Road 44 between 15 and 17
Indiana 13 between 15 and 17
County Road 32 from the West County Line to County Road 1
Lake County
Ramp from northbound I-65 to westbound I-80/94
Marshall County
Indiana 10 at Filbert
State Road 331 from State Road 10 to State Road 25
State Road 10 from State Road 331 to Argos
State Road 23 from State Road 8 to County Road 400 West
Kosciusko County
Indiana 19 near Tippecanoe Valley High School
Packerton Road at several spots
Indiana 25 between County Roads 950 and 1000 West (wash out)
Fulton County
State Road 17 from State Road 14 to State Road 16
Starke County
Parts of Indiana 10, including between County Road 750E and 850E
Sandbag locations
Marshall County
Hoffman Brothers auto parts store, 211 E. Garro St.
Elkhart County
Sunset Lane near C.R. 17 just south of the Six Span Bridge
Boy Scout Camp Parking Lot on C.R. 46
Oxbow Park's secondary entrance off C.R. 45 and the main hub
Elkhart County Highway Garage on C.R. 7
St. Joseph County
Street Department, 731 S. Lafayette Blvd., directly behind the South Bend Police Department, from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
River flooding forecasts
South Bend
The St. Joseph River was at 7.0 feet and rising at 6 a.m. Tuesday and is expected to crest at 8.6 feet about 2 p.m. Thursday. Moderate flooding is forecast.
Elkhart
The St. Joseph River was at 24.4 feet and rising at 10 p.m. Tuesday. It is expected to crest at 25.8 feet at 2 p.m. Thursday. Moderate flooding is forecast.
Niles
The St. Joseph River was at 12.3 feet and rising at 10 p.m. Tuesday. It is expected to crest near 13.3 feet at 2 a.m. Friday. Minor flooding is forecast.
Plymouth
The Yellow River was at 13.8 feet and rising at 9 p.m. Tuesday. The river will crest near 15 feet about 2 p.m. Thursday. Major flooding is forecast.
