Neighbors mostly helping neighbors so far during Plymouth flooding

By KEN BRADFORD, Tribune Staff Writer

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(Tribune Photo/BARBARA ALLISON) 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.

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Mar 12, 2009 at 11:57 AM EST

Story Updated: Mar 12, 2009 at 12:03 PM EST

PLYMOUTH — For most folks living here, it’s a simple thing when the Yellow River rises and falls.

If there’s a flood, they might change the way they drive to work or school, but life otherwise goes on as normal.

There was a two-hour delay for Plymouth schools today to give buses extra time to navigate past the handful of closed streets.

And Mayor Mark Senter said it’s likely later today the city will block off East Jefferson Street, a heavily traveled road that connects downtown with U.S. 31.

The city can’t stop the river from rising, so its main role is to monitor the floodwaters and keep people away from dangerous areas.

“People just have to be careful and look out for your neighbors,” he said.

There are no government bailouts here. If water gets into your basement, it’s your job to bail it or pump it out yourself.

“There are a little more than 40 homes that we are concerned about,” Senter said.

So far, 10 of those are flooded, he said. His estimate is that there are 3,000 homes total in Plymouth.

The only city-owned facility currently in danger is the Conservation Club House in Magnetic Park.

The clubhouse there flooded last year to the extent that a refrigerator was floating in the basement. With diking and other measures taken since, there’s just some seepage this year, the mayor said.

The Boys & Girls Club, built on the low spot along East Jefferson, is closed. After-school activities have been shifted to Washington Elementary School.

Senter’s expecting the river to crest at 8 p.m. today, but it likely will be Tuesday before the river returns to its banks.

“We were very prepared for this,” he said.

The city asked the American Red Cross to set up an emergency shelter at the First United Church of Christ, 321 N. Center St.

Seated there today, Carol Arnett was having a boring day.

She had room for 50 cots, with not a single one in use.

She prefers it that way. It means either that people don’t need help or that they’ve found friends or family to help them.

“I love to be open here,” said Arnett, board chairman for the Red Cross’ Marshall County chapter. “We have a nice big room with a kitchenette and a classroom here and a classroom there.”

The real need probably is in Fulton County, where the Tippecanoe River has flooded Rochester and neighboring towns.

A emergency center has been opened at the Fulton County fairgrounds in Rochester, she said.

Staff writer Ken Bradford:
kbradford@sbtinfo.com
(574) 235-6257

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