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Gonz

Gonz

molṑn labé
Staff member
In 1982, before I even knew there was a city called Ft Wayne, they had a 100 year flood. There is an "earth mover" tire at one of the businesses in the downtown area that has a high water mark about half way up. They had middle & high school kids volunteering to fill sand bags. The community came together like nobodies business. It was awful. The city learned & fixed many of the overlooked flood zones & spillways. All was well.

Here it is, 21 years later. I've come to know the city I never knew existed. The city has had many changes (well, actually very few-this is the midwest after all).

Anybody up for a 500 year flood? Well, apparently, neither are we. The rivers (Ft Wayne is the meeting point of the St Marys, Maumee & St Josepgh rivers) are on the rise again. Most of my neighborhood is blocked off by high water. Our house is literally 2 blocks from the St Marys river (the one that doesn't flood). It's overflowing it's banks as I type this, creeping up the river-side yards of the homes on the next block. Since we're on a peak in the area, our house should be okay (presuming we don't get 6" of rain tonight &/or tomorrow which is quite possible).

So, if anybody wants to come to the "city of churches" for it's annual week-long Three Rivers festival (the opening parade may be Saturday) bring along some sand bags & a boat. It ain't purty.

Volunteers Needed to Fill/Stack Sandbags:

Volunteers should report to the Anthis Career Center parking lot at 1200 S. Barr St. Volunteers will then be shuttled to sand bagging locations.

Streets Closed:
City of Fort Wayne Streets
- Beaver at Rudisill
- Bluffton & Broadway
- Broadway & Bluffton
- Calhoun & Morningside
- Calhoun & Tillman
- Calhoun (from Concord Lane to Tillman Rd.)
- Catalpa & Taylor
- Dalevue Dr
- Fairfax (between Indiana & Old Mill Rd)
- Fairfield (Paulding to Tillman)
- Fairfield at Fairwick
- Fairwick at Fairfield
- Fernwood Ave
- Fourth Street & Spy Run
- Hartman Rd (Sherwood Terrace to Foster Park Dr.)
- Leesburg & Spring - Morningside & Calhoun
- North River Rd (Maysville to Landin)
- Old Mill (Lexington to Bluffton)
- Old Mill Rd (Pettit to Old Farm Circle)
- Orchard Lane
- Prairie Grove (Bradbury to Orchard Lane)
- Rudisill at Beaver
- Sherman (Superior to High)
- Southfair Court (Fairfield to Harrison)
- Spring & Leesburg
- Taylor & Catalpa
- Taylor (Freeman to Brooklyn)
- Tillman & Calhoun
- Tillman (Hanna to Lower Huntington)
- Winchester (North end by Soccer Field)
- Winchester Road (Airport Expressway to Shamrock)

The river level at the Maumee River at 6 p.m. was 19.77 feet. The Maumee River reaches flood stage at 17 feet. The river level at the St. Marys River in Decatur at 4 p.m. was 26.83 feet. The St. Marys River reaches flood stage at 17 feet. For the most current river levels, visit the National Weather Service - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Website.

Sandbags have been placed at several locations:

- Fairfield Ditch in the Belle Vista/Waynedale area
- Park Avenue/Thompson Avenue
- Berry Street/Thieme Drive
- Superior Street-east and west
- Eastbrook/Westbrook
- Calhoun Street/Hoover Drive
- Woodhurst Addition
- Hartman Road/Sherwood Terrace
- Indiana Ave.
- Pettit & Old Mill
- Berry & Nelson
- Old Mill & Century
- Fairfax & Woodhurst


Residents can fill their own sandbags for use on their property at three locations, which include Taylor University parking lot, Tillman Park behind tennis courts and Portage Middle School parking lot.

The City is also constructing clay dikes at several locations:

· Pauline Street
· Fairfield Avenue south of Paulding Road
· Thompson Avenue north of Park Avenue
· Superior Street in the Ross-Michael area

The American Red Cross asks residents who have been evacuated from their homes to notify their family members to let them know of their whereabouts.

Parents are reminded to keep children out of rivers, creeks and standing water. These areas pose potential health and safety risks. The City’s Emergency Operations Center will remain open until further notice. Residents may call 427-5858 if they have questions or are in need of non-emergency assistance.
The following City parks are partially or fully closed:

· Foster Park and Golf Course
· Foster West and Sears Pavilion
· Pawster Dog Park at Foster West
· West Swinney Park and Swinney Pool
· Lawton Park
· Indian Village Park
· Kreager Park
· Rockhill Park

A memorial service for Howard Grimm, Jr., scheduled today at Sears Pavilion at Foster Park West, is rescheduled. For information call 427-6000.

The Alzheimer Association Walk on July 12 has been moved from Foster Park to Heritage Park, 2001 Hobson Ave. For details contact Kathy Spletzer at 888-303-0180.

All Parks and Recreation soccer activity at Foster Park is relocated to Kekionga Middle School until the park is playable again. All participants in Little Kickers, Kickin Kids and Big Kickers programs will be contacted by the Parks and Recreation Department.

All Parks and Recreation soccer activity at Kreager Park is relocated to Blackhawk Middle School until the North River Road (Lake Street extended) reopens. Participants in Little Kickers, Kickin Kids and Big Kickers will be contacted by the Parks and Recreation Department.

The Junior Golf Tournament activities are postponed until further notice.

Residents are reminded to avoid contact with river, creek and standing water. Skin contact to people and pets can pose potential health and safety risks. Also, do not drive vehicles into water due to depth and current of the rivers.
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I'll never forget the flood we had here in 98. I believe it was a 500-year flood too; $32 million in damage. 8-11" in two days. They were putting in boats in a Dillons' (grocery store) parking lot, which is a good 1/2 mile from the nearest creek. Ditches near our house are 4-5' deep, and they were full on both sides covering the entire road for miles. There is a bridge going over a creek less than 1/4 mile from my house and when the water went over it, it has so much force that it went between the pavement and the bridge and pulled the blacktop up and folded it over. There used to be a gallery online, but I can't find it at this moment.

I knew a few people who's house was taken out by it, but most of the homes destroyed belonged to elderly couples. They're still rebuilding houses to this day.

Best of luck Gonz....keep your head above the water. :wink2:
 
And you americans call yourself capitilists. Here's a prime business opportunity staring you in the face and you want to block it. Screw the sandbags. Get your tourist officials in gear and start selling the place as the new world Venice. Start up a gondola factory. Sell, sell, sell.
 
After last Spring I got smart - all the machines are now on the opposite basement wall from the door where the water wants to come in....
 
HomeLAN said:
After last Spring I got smart - all the machines are now on the opposite basement wall from the door where the water wants to come in....
Click to expand...

Do you have sand bags outside the door? How about inside?
 
We're preparing for the 100 year flood at work. Little Haikey Creek runs through the golf course and it already flash floods easily at any sizeable rain. One of these days it'll probably take out several of the greens/fairways on the course.
 
HomeLAN said:
After last Spring I got smart - all the machines are now on the opposite basement wall from the door where the water wants to come in....
Click to expand...

Here we go again. Between two storms yesterday, we got about 5.5~6 inches, judging by the pool. The second storm rolled in last night, and it dumped about 2 inches in about 40 minutes. It was too much for the backyard drainage system, and in the water came. Wet basement this morning. :mad:

Oh well, it didn't get to the machines.
 
I was running amok last night for 45 minutes making sure that none of the floodage was creeping inside as well as keeping the debris from clogging my exterior drains.

My dad told me that the deluge was so bad down in Sarasota that the visibility was cut to arms length.
 
*feels stupid*

*doesn't know what a 100 year or 500 year flood are*

*would have guessed they are floods that last 100 and 500 years respectively*

:lloyd:
 
A flood so horrendous its said to only happen once in 100yrs ,kinda like the Ice storms you easterners(*chuckles*) had several years back.
 
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