The Lafayette Journal & Courier has some excellent coverage of the flood situation in the area:
Monon area flooding by Brian Wallheimer – In one Monon trailer park, residents were told at 5 a.m. that leaving was recommended; by 5:30 a.m. it was a necessity. One resident said she just has to find a new place to live on account of repeated flooding. At least one family had to be evacuated by boat.
Death of Goodland man by Brian Wallheimer – Ronnie Napier, Sr. was driving to work at Omni Forge at about 2:30 a.m. when floodwaters on Carpenter Creek pulled him to his death.
Invasion of floodwaters by Max Showalter and Meranda Watling – the floodwaters have affected a 6 county area north of Lafayette, with the hardest hit being around Remington, Monon, and Monticello. Three people have died, including two young children in Fulton County who were trapped in an SUV. Record flows were recorded at the Norway and Oakdale dams along the Tippecanoe River, forming Lakes Shafer and Freeman, respectively.
Preparing for the worst by Sophia Voravong and Meranda Watling – The Tippecanoe County Emergency Management Agency is preparing for the worst. The Wabash River is expected to hit 22 feet, 11 feet above flood stage.
No warning below Oakdale Dam by Meranda Watling – a big mess south of the Oakdale Dam.
Higher than I’d seen in 30 years by Curt Slyder – High waters at Buffalo, along the Tippecanoe River.
Region flooded by Katie Duffey (Monticello Herald Journal) – Murphy’s Law was apparently in effect. The National Weather Service reported a dam failure which put a lot of people into a panic. A ton of rain that would’ve been tolerable in the summer creates more problem in the winter because the ground doesn’t absorb the water as well, making it all run off into the river.
Sounds like a big mess out there but that the various communities are really coming together. Just when you think humans are nasty, brutish creatures, some external threat comes along and suddenly people figure out how to treat each other decently.
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