Heavy rains causes flooding in the Valley

FONTANET, Ind. (WTHI) - All the recent rains have flooded parts of a Wabash Valley town that is just recovering from the June 2008 floods.

Several homes in Fontanet in Vigo County are surrounded by water.

Vigo County Emergency management officials have been out checking the fast moving waters most of the day.

A torrent of water is rushing down Otter Creek. Water comes right right up to the front steps of several homes. Several residents were seen walking in the creek to get to their home.

The Baldwin Street Bridge is brand-new. Just 11 days ago, crews finally completing the bridge after it was destroyed in the June 2008 floods. The concrete pillars stand strong, but the water is not far from the underside of the span Tuesday afternoon.

"We've had a couple inquiries about the water and so we're up here just checking things," said Vigo County EMA Deputy Director J.D. Kesler.

Downstream, Michael Soules is doing his own checking.

"I'm a little nervous, but it's never gotten to the house," said Soules. "I've been here about 8 years."

Soules said the waters were even higher two years ago. He added this kind of flooding happens in his yard a couple times a year.

"I woke up this morning to this and it's went up probably another 20 feet during the day today," said Soules. "We're expecting more rain."

But if it doesn't rain anymore, residents here know the waters can go down almost as quickly as they went up.

But until that point, having a brand new bridge isn't doing them very much good.

"We'll probably be out and about pretty much all night looking at different areas," said Kesler. "If we get more water, then it's going to be an activation."

Kesler reminds people to not walk or drive into standing water. You never know what may have washed out.

News 10 checked into rumors that the dam on Raccoon Lake is partly to blame for the flooding. That is not true. Any water from Raccoon Lake flows into Raccoon Creek and into the Wabash River through Parke County.