Roadways across Alexandria were shut down on Wednesday as flood waters covered the town’s landscape. The lawns of many homes dotting Indiana 9 were saturated with swirling, brown water as low-lying areas gathered rain from the storm.
Five streets were at least partially closed within the city as a result of Tuesday night storms and Wednesday rainfall, which dumped 2-3 inches across Madison County.
Water swarmed sections of Washington and John streets along Indiana 9, threatening to flood area businesses. The spare shed of a small, white home along Indiana 9 stood like an island as flood waters inched closer to the highway, threatening to drown the main artery.
Portions of Chestnut and Berry streets were also under water.
In response to the threat of city-wide flooding, city officials established evacuation centers at the high school auditorium and the community center. City officials also offered sand bags and bagging materials through the street and water departments for those residents worried about property damage.
The threat of excessive flooding was more imminent as city officials worried that the Pipe Creek dike would not hold the waterway.
According to Mayor Jack Woods, 13 Alexandria residents living on flood plains were called and warned about the threat of flooding.
The Washington Street bridge was inches from being engulfed by the fast-moving waters beneath. Down the road, low-lying parts of Washington were closed near the water treatment plant as water pushed up onto the roadway.
A collection of Alexandria firefighters who waded through the rushing flood waters of Pipe Creek to check the status of the dike determined Wednesday afternoon that the structure would hold.
Police Chief Brian Burnett warned that the failure of the dike would lead to the flooding of Indiana 9 within 15 minutes.
Fortunately, the dike held, and flooding was kept to a minimal.
The threat of flooding on Indiana 9 was ever-present as it passed Washington Street. At 2 p.m. Wednesday, water gathering in the tree line to the east of the highway rose with the flooding across the street. The roadway was inches from being overcome before the rain finally subsided.
The Village Pantry on Indiana 9 closed shop around noon on Wednesday as the Washington Street flood waters crept closer to the store’s entrance. Village Pantry employees hastily piled sand bags against the doorway and moved merchandise to avoid damage. With only two dry parking spaces left in the lot, and the promise of more rain on its way, the store was shut down. A hand-scribbled note hung in the entrance to the darkened store, explaining the unforeseen closure.
The store and its merchandise were spared as waters receded late Wednesday afternoon.
The impact on the rest of Madison County paled in comparison to Alexandria’s saturated streets, but some county roads were underwater most of Wednesday.
In Pendleton, gates were thrown shut, closing off the section of County Road 950 South known as “the fjord.” Scott Harless of the Madison County Highway Department said the fjord was five feet deep at times.
A drainage ditch spilled over on McArthur Court in Anderson, and a curve of Grand Avenue’s winding path was engulfed in Anderson as the White River climbed its banks, reaching 11 feet. With Killbuck Creek flooding near Moonsville, two county roads were also closed early.
The water-logged landscape of Madison County was expected to freeze today as a mix of snow and rain enters the area. Alternating sheets of snow and rain are expected to continue into Saturday with temperatures in the 30s and 40s.
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Alex residents affected by Wednesday’s flooding should call the City of Alexandria at (765) 724-4633 for assistance.
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John P. Cleary
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February 6, 2008
9:46 p.m.: Water-logged Alexandria stays afloat amidst flooding
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