The Great Flood Of 2008

If there is a such a thing as a one-hundred year flood, parts of Indiana are experiencing it today. From the banks of the Wabash River in West Central Indiana to the White River in the state's mid-section south of I-70, flooding is widespread from rain in excess of 10 inches in some places. In the Terre Haute area, flood waters closed parts of I-70 and US-41. Highway 63 south of the Terre Haute penitentiary was washed out. Homes were destroyed in the Allendale community south of Terre Haute where many residents don't have flood insurance because it is not considered to be within a flood plain. Breached levies along Wabash tributaries exacerbated flooding, engulfing several apartment and retirement communities who had to be rescued by boat when flood waters rose before residents could escape. The National Guard is aiding in flood efforts in Vigo County. The situation in Johnson and Morgan Counties south of Indianapolis is just as bad with numerous roads washed out, dams breached and entire communities like Paragon under water.

It's too soon to know the extent of the damage, but it isn't hard to imagine flood damage in Indiana easily topping $1 billion. Government budgets will be strained to repair all the damaged roads, bridges, dams and levies. Record-high oil prices have already been making asphalt road construction costs soar. Widespread crop damage will push record-high grain prices even higher. At least ten Indiana counties have been severely impacted by this week's flooding, including Vigo, Greene, Sullivan, Monroe, Brown, Owen, Clay, Morgan, Johnson and southern Putnam counties.

UPDATE: As the water moves downstream, the flooding has spread to Columbus. The Columbus Regional Hospital has been forced to evacuate nearly 100 patients according to WTHR. At least one bridge leading into the city over a creek has collapsed and water levels are too high to make travel over other bridges safe.