Local Officials Brace For Potential High WaterMelting snow followed by a forecast calling for rain today was leading to moderate concerns over the potential for flooding in Warsaw and nearby areas.
City crews were preparing sandbags Wednesday afternoon and were lining up more bags this morning as a precaution, said Public Works Superintendent Jeff Beeler early today.
As of today, officials were not seeing anything of significance.
Beeler surveyed areas of the city that often flood in the spring. Specifically, he tracks the water level near Sunset Drive bridge along Pike Lake.
He is also tracking the water level on the Tippecanoe River through a National Weather Service website for Northern Indiana.
On Wednesday night, the website was predicting a crest of 13 feet, 6 inches, but as of this morning the water level stood at 12 feet, 4 inches.
A year ago when the region saw significant flooding, that same measuring point saw a crest of 15 feet, 6 inches.
“Right now, it’s looking good,” Beeler said.
“We didn’t get the rain we were anticipating, but it’s supposed to tick back up Saturday,” he said.
Beeler shied away from making any further predictions. Much could depend on the amount of rain today. Most of the precipitation was expected to stay south of U.S. 24.
“It depends on what Mother Nature does,” Beeler said.
Ed Rock, Kosciusko County Emergency Management director, said he's not received any reports of flooding in the county this morning.
Rock added that those who feel like they need sandbags can get materials at the county highway department headquarters on East Old 30.
Those materials are available 24 hours a day; residents will need to bring their own shovels.
At the city public works garage, sandbags are available on a first-come, first-served basis, according to a news release issued by the city on Wednesday.
Sandbags can be delivered if necessary. Residents can call the Public Works Department at 574-372-9561.
Tonight’s forecast calls for a lingering chance of rain followed by temperatures plummeting into the low teens.
Temperatures were expected to remain below freezing through the weekend, which Beeler said could slow the drainage process on lakes and rivers.
To check out the water level of the Tippecanoe River that is tracked by the city, go to the NWS website for Northern Indiana, select “rivers and lakes” at the top, click on Tippecanoe River low on the page and select “near Ora.”
Beeler said the city will not have staff available to deliver sandbags during the weekend unless conditions merit an emergency.
Staff reporter Mark Howe contributed to this story.
