Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Though the rainfall has slowed for now, flooding problems in Northern Indiana continue Thursday.
More than 20 flooded roads in Kosciusko County were closed as of this morning, and drivers are finding their cars stalling after attempting to barrel through the high waters anyway.
At one point Wednesday, Kosciusko County Highway Department Assistant Superintendent Steve Moriarty said they ran out of high-water signs and began making more after exhausting a backup supply.
The department was using more than 150 high-water and road closure signs across the county.
At 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service readings on the Tippecanoe River at Ora indicated the river had risen to 14.07 feet, 2 feet above flood stage, according to a news release from the city of Warsaw.
Officials believe the river will not crest until Saturday afternoon when it reaches 15.1 feet. This would indicate that flood levels could rise an additional foot, the release states.
“Traditionally, we have found the Tippecanoe River data from Ora to be accurate with respect to predicted changes in (the) level,” the release said.
City officials ask that residents be aware of the potential for rising floodwaters in and around their homes and the risks associated with it.
City employees and volunteers have been filling sandbags at the street department for use by city residents.
To request bags and to volunteer to fill bags, call the Warsaw Street Department at 574-372-9561.
For those outside Warsaw city limits, the county has sand and bags outside of the fence of the Kosciusko County Highway Department. Residents just need to bring their shovels and friends to fill bags.
The highway department is at 2936 E. Old 30, Warsaw.
National Weather Service meteorologist Kyle Brown said this morning that another half inch of rain is expected Friday and Saturday, with rain falling Friday morning and afternoon and throughout the day Saturday.
Sunday will be mostly sunny with a high in the upper 40s.
“The good news here is it will be dry (Sunday),” Brown said.
He said from Feb. 19 to 20, the areas receiving the most rain in Kosciusko County looked to be Lake Wawasee, which received 4.85 inches, and Leesburg, which had 5.50 inches. Areas to the north and west saw more rainfall while areas to the south and east saw less.
A news release from The Watershed Foundation states that after the past few days of intense rainfall, area lakes are now at or near flood stage.
“If you are not currently at your property, we recommend you ask a neighbor or friend to check your property. Water levels will continue to rise as water moves into the Tippecanoe River from across the watershed. There are currently flood levels in upper-watershed lakes. Levels in the lower lakes will continue to rise for 48 hours,” the TWF release said.
“Our watershed begins near Crooked and Big Lake. Eventually, the water (on the east side of the watershed) all passes through the dam at Oswego. Then this water travels down the Tippecanoe River to the Warsaw area,” the release states.
Road closures
As of 9:45 a.m. today, closures included:
• CR 550N from 75E to 100E
• CR 1200S from 300E to 400E
• CR 550S from Ind. 15 to Kinsey Road
• Woodland Lane/Lakeshore Drive West from Lakeshore Drive South to Lakeshore Drive South
• Eastshore Drive East from Maple Grove Lane to West Channel Road
• CR 300E from 600S to 700S
• CR 1200S from Ind. 15 to Peru Road
• CR 400N from 850W to 950W
• CR 350N from Ind. 19 to 950W
• CR 950W from 400N to U.S. 30
• CR 800S from Ind. 19 to 1000W
• CR 700S from 825W to 1000W
• CR 1200W from Ind. 25 to 500S
• CR 1000W from 700S to 800S
• CR 950W from Hepton Road to 1350N
• CR 350S from Ind. 15 to CR 25W
• CR 1000W from Hepton Road to 1000N
• CR 200S from Tinkey Road to 775W
• CR 1350N from 200W to 300W
• CR 750N from 900W to Ind. 19
• CR 1000S from Ind. 19 to 1000W
Roads with high water
• County Farm Road from CR 1050S to Ind. 14
• CR 950E from W-16 to W-17
• CR 450N at 920W
• CR 300E from 600S to 700S
• CR 200E from Ind. 19 to County Line
• CR 200S from Ind. 19 to CR 950W
• CR 100S from 400W to Ind. 25
• CR 200S from County Farm Road to Country Club Drive
• Hoppus Road from 50W to Kinsey Road
• CR 275E from 225S to 400S
• CR 250S from U.S. 30 to 900E
• CR 500E from 1000N to 1100N
• CR 1000N from Ind. 13 to 800E
• CR 1000E from 1100N to Enchanted Hills
• CR 450S from Magee Road to Country Club Drive
• CR 300S from County Farm Road to Country Club Drive
• CR 250S from 900E to County Line
• CR 400E from 850S to 900S
• County Farm Road from Ind. 14 to 1200S
• CR 200W from Ind. 14 to 1000S; 800S to 900S; and 800S to 700S
• CR 100W from 700S to 800S
• CR 700W from 550N to 600N
• CR 1050W from Ind. 19 to 650N
• CR 800W from County Line Road to Ind. 19
• CR 450N from 375E to Chapman Lake Drive
• CR 100N from 650E to 300E
• CR 1350N from 400W to 500W and 850W to 950W
• CR 300W from 1250N to 1350N
• CR 950W from Hepton Road to 1350W
• CR 1050N from Ind. 19 to 900W
• CR 1200N from 1000W to 1100 West County Line
• CR 600S from 300E to 400E
• CR 1000S from west county line to 1200W
• Packerton Road from 400S to 550S and 900S to 800S
• CR 300S from County Farm Road to Country Club Drive
• CR 100N from 525W to 600W
• CR 800W from 125N to 200N
• CR 400W from 200S to Ind. 25
• CR 100S from Ind. 25 to 400W
• Crystal Lake Road from Ind. 25 to 400W
• CR 1350N from Ind. 19 to Ind. 15
• CR 700S from 600E to 550E
• CR 725S from 400E to Ind. 13
• CR 400E at the intersection of 800S
• CR 800S from the railroad tracks to 100E and from County Farm Road to 100E
• CR 1250N from 200W to 100W
• CR 300N from 875W to U.S. 30
• CR 900W from 800N to Ind. 19
• CR 400E from 500S to 600S
• CR 350S from 450E to 500E
• CR 450E from Old 30 to 100S
• CR 500S from 675E to 700E
• CR 1300N from 300E to 250E
• R4 Lane from R4E Lane to R4G Lane
• South Barbee Drive from EMS B22 Lane to EMS B23 Lane
• CR 475E from 300N to 375N
• Old Ind. 15 from 575E to Levi Lee Road
• CR 800N from 500E to 650E
• CR 150S from Ind. 25 to 400W
• CR 250S from Ind. 25 to Ferguson Road
• CR 100S from 600W to 650W and 675W to 775W
• CR 600W from Shilling Road to 200S
• CR 450W from Union Street to 525S
• Union Street from Ind. 15 to 400W
• CR 525S from 450W to Scott Road
• CR 950W from Ind. 25 to 200S
• CR 100S from Ind. 19 to 950W
• CR 400W from Ind. 25 to 350S
• Old 30 at 600W
• CR 1050W from Ind. 19 to 900W.
