Community leaders praise rescue workers, street crews for flood efforts

Community leaders are expressing their gratitude to local rescue workers and crews who kept people safe and are working to get their communities open again, after the flooding that started a week ago.

Columbus Mayor Mary Ferdon explained:

Bartholomew County Commissioners President Carl Lienhoop:

Leaders are also crediting changes made after the 2008 flood for helping reduce damage and improve warnings ahead of last week’s heavy rain. They are saying that better flood prediction rain gauges in area rivers give advance warning, better flood maps allow for properties to be built so they are not in he flood plain and higher elevations of newer construction means they are above flood waters when they do come.

Seymour Mayor Matt Nicholson said that despite the near-record flooding, the city escaped with minimal damage. He praised the efforts to provide sandbags for those in the community that needed them.

Photo: State Road 11 during the weekend flooding. photo courtesy of Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.