Indiana’s Flooding Crisis Begins to Ease

INDIANAPOLIS —  Disaster management officials said Sunday that the flooding emergency in southwestern Indiana had lessened and the cleanup was under way following flooding statewide that chased thousands from their homes.

Levees at Vincennes and Hazleton appeared able to safely contain rising water.

The Wabash River was at 26 feet at Vincennes, 10.3 feet above flood stage, and expected to crest slightly higher during the night.

“Everything is holding steady. The levees are looking really good. We’re waiting for the water to recede,” said Steve Dillon, director of the Knox County Emergency Management Agency.

About 15 miles south of Vincennes, the White River was at 27.5 feet, 11.5 feet above flood stage, in Hazleton. It could rise another foot before cresting overnight or early today, said Alden Taylor, spokesman for the State Emergency Management Agency.

Dillon said he didn’t want to minimize the flooding emergency, but he said the worst appeared to be over.

“Now the heartache is for the residents getting back in their homes,” he said.

Approximately 54 families remained out of their homes Sunday across southwestern Indiana, officials said.

One death and one presumed death have been blamed on the flooding, and about 2,000 families have been evacuated since the flooding began Dec. 29.

The White River’s east fork in southern Indiana had fallen 2 1/2 feet at Williams and nearly a foot at Shoals since Saturday morning, the National Weather Service said. Upstream in Bartholomew County, the river had returned to normal at Columbus and continued to fall at Seymour.