Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent Dennis Pletcher told the county commissioners today that flood waters have risen to a new level after heavy rain and high temperatures Monday night.
"We have high water in places we haven't had high water in the past," Pletcher said.Pletcher said the melting snow, combined with saturated ground throughout most of the county, is causing water to rise.
"We got so much rain and so much snow melt there was no place for the water to go," Pletcher said.
Pletcher said several county roads had been closed and highway crews were at work repairing water damage to several roads. He said the county's water problems won't end when the surface water goes down. He said as the water drains, tiles, ditches, creeks and rivers will likely overflow, flooding areas that are currently dry.
Pletcher said it is likely that Tippecanoe Lake will flood again. Residents in areas prone to flooding should be prepared with clean bottled drinking water and auxiliary heat.
He said with temperatures expected to drop and more precipitation on the way, the county may not have seen the extent of the flooding problem.
"This could turn into something bigger," Pletcher said.
Kosciusko County Emergency Management Director Ed Rock said his department was arranging locations for sandbag distribution. He said county residents in need of sandbags should call the Emergency Management office at 574-267-7888.
Rock said motorists are asked to report flooded roadways. He said motorists who come across flooded roads should call either the county or state highway departments or city street department, depending on what type of road the flooding is on. Motorists should avoid high water and not attempt to drive through it.
In other news:
n County Administrator Ron Robinson said the front area of the county auditor's office will be closed Friday for the installation of new carpet. Robinson also said the back offices of the auditor's office and the county treasurer's office will be closed Feb. 15 for new carpet installation. Robinson said county employees will be on hand on both dates to provide service to the public.
n The commissioners approved members of the Solid Waste District Board as Brad Jackson, Terry A. Howie, John Kinsey, Ron Truex, Ernest B. Wiggins, George Clemens and Robert Conley.
