11:20 a.m. Wednesday
COLUMBUS, Ind. — The Columbus Police Department has released an update, covering efforts by city and Bartholomew County emergency services personnel as they continue to monitor local streams and rivers that have flooded due to excessive rain.
Bartholomew County Emergency Management held a meeting Tuesday night to discuss flood preparations. Law enforcement went door to door to warn residents about the possibility of flooding in parts of the Columbus.
The American Red Cross opened an emergency shelter at Donner Center at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday and assisted one family with overnight accommodations. The shelter will remain open until 7
a.m. Thursday.
Public safety personnel are reminding motorists not to drive across flooded roadways.
The information below is the most current stream gauge and flood plan information:
Haw Creek at Clifford: Continues to recede and is currently at 8.3 feet. Stream levels are expected to continue downward.
Clifty Creek at Columbus: Is currently at 18.35 feet and crested earlier today at 19 feet. A stream gauge reading of 19.2 feet represents at 10-year flood on Clifty Creek. Other than the continued closure of South Gladstone Avenue, no other significant flood impacts are expected along Clifty Creek at the current levels.
Clifty Creek has reached its crest at Hartsville, upstream from Columbus.
Flatrock River at Columbus: Is currently at 14.72 feet and continues to rise. The expected crest has been
revised down significantly to 15.2 feet. The crest is now also expected to occur late Wednesday evening. This
would now be a 10-year flood event on the Flatrock River. The Flood Response Plan indicates a potential flood risk for Lawton Avenue at this level of flooding, but no risk to the larger Washington/Franklin Street area or The Lagoons. A crest at 15.2 feet would continue to be the most significant flooding on the Flatrock River since the 2008 flood (which reached 19.94 feet).
Driftwood River at Edinburgh: Is currently at 15.16 feet and continues to rise. The expected crest has been revised slightly to 16 feet, to occur early Thursday morning. This continues to represent a 10-year flood event on the Driftwood. The Flood Response Plan indicates the closure of Lowell Road at a Driftwood stream gage reading of +/-16 feet.
East Fork White River at Columbus: Is currently at 12 feet and rising, but with a significantly lower forecast crest. That crest is now anticipated to be at 13.4 feet early Thursday morning. State Road 11 and Southern Crossing remains closed due to floodwater. However, State Road 46 would be expected to remain flood free.
Flooding continues to be expected at Griffin Industries (DARPRO).
Emergency services are continuing to monitor flooded areas and will provide an update as the flood water passes through the area.
7:30 a.m. posting
COLUMBUS, Ind. — Bartholomew County Emergency Management posted these flood warnings at 11:03 p.m. Tuesday.
The Flood Warning continues for The Flatrock River near Columbus:
* until Friday morning.
* At 10:30 p.m. Tuesday the stage was 12.5 feet.
* Flood stage is 11.0 feet.
* Minor flooding is occurring and moderate flooding is forecast.
* Forecast: The river will rise to near 16.0 feet by Wednesday
evening then begin falling. The river will fall below flood stage
late Thursday night.
* At 16.5 feet: During the January 2005 flood, river level was about 1 foot below the lowest berm along Flatrock Drive in the northeast end of Noblitt Lagoons near the junction of Washington Street and Riverside Drive. A few Noblitt Lagoons residents had wet basements.
The Flood Warning continues for The Clifty Creek at Hartsville:
* until further notice.
* At 10 p.m. Tuesday the stage was 11.8 feet.
* Flood stage is 9.0 feet.
* Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast.
* Forecast: The river will continue rising to near 12.7 feet by Tuesday night then begin falling.
* At 13.0 feet: Significant flooding in progress along Clifty Creek. Since 1948, Clifty Creek has crested only 3 times above 13 feet. The last time was June 2008. Flooding likely closes portions of County Roads 1150E, 225N and possibly Sunland Road. Some residential property may begin to flood.
The Flood Warning continues for The Driftwood River near Edinburgh:
* until Saturday afternoon.
* At 10:30 p.m. Tuesday the stage was 13.0 feet.
* Flood stage is 11.0 feet.
* Minor flooding is occurring and moderate flooding is forecast.
* Forecast: The river will rise to near 15.8 feet by Wednesday
evening then begin falling. The river will fall below flood stage
late Friday night.
* At 16.0 feet: Extensive flooding along Driftwood River in northern Bartholomew County and Double Y Saddle Club area. Tannehill Road west of bridge and County Road 325W south of Lowell Road are flooded.
Water is on or very close to Lowell Road and the County Road 250W intersection east of the bridge. Water is very close or possibly in several residences and seasonal homes along County Roads 330W and 325W.
Water is deeper on County Road 330W just south of Ohio Ridge Road and CR 500N west of County Road 250W.
