Crawford County preparing for huge Kickapoo River Flood
Volunteers sandbag and construct a wall around Jo’s Kountry Bar in Steuben Tuesday morning in anticipation of a near record setting flood of the Kickapoo River. The river is expected to set records at all other communities in Vernon and Crawford counties. (Photo by Ted Pennekamp)
This shows the flooding at Readstown the morning of Aug. 28. The river is expected to crest at a record 20.5 feet at Readstown later on Aug. 28. The current record is 19.6 feet set on June 9, 2008. (Photo courtesy of Dennis Pelock)
This is another view of the flooding that was happening in Readstown Tuesday morning. (Photo courtesy of Dennis Pelock)
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks washed out south of Stoddard along Highway 35 on Aug. 28. (Photo courtesy of Dennis Pelock)
By Ted Pennekamp
Numerous adults, children, and personnel from area fire departments have been busy sandbagging in Steuben and Gays Mills in preparation for a possible record-setting flood of the Kickapoo River by Aug. 29 and 30.
Flooding is already happening in Readstown and other communities along the river in Vernon County and more rain is expected for tonight, Aug. 28. Crawford County Highway Commissioner Dennis Pelock said two dams in Vernon County are nearly compromised. The water was almost ready to go over the dams by about 10:30 a.m., Aug. 28.
“Let’s hope the Good Lord holds off the rain,” said Pelock Tuesday morning. Pelock noted that the county has been putting up barricades and road closed signs in anticipation of the flood. If the flood happens as predicted, Pelock said water might very well go over Highway 60 in Crawford County.
“This is the first time since I’ve been Emergency Government Director (six years) that we were able to get a heads up,” said Jim Hackett of Crawford County. “In the past, it always hit us and Vernon County at the same time, so we were always in the same boat.”
Hackett said Vernon County officials warned Crawford County so that Crawford County could get better prepared and place various agencies and emergency personnel on standby, and also call for volunteers for sandbagging.
“It’s a work day, but the volunteers are showing up to sandbag anyway,” said Hackett. “The volunteers are great. They always show up and work hard and they never complain.”
At 2 p.m. in Viola in Vernon County, the river stage was 14.1 feet, according to the National Weather Service. It is predicted to hit a record 23.5 feet on Aug. 29. The current record is 21.2 feet, which happened on June 9, 2008. Flood stage in Viola is 14 feet.
As of 2 p.m. on Aug. 28, the river was at 16.92 feet in Readstown. Flood stage is 11 feet in Readstown. The river is expected to hit a record of 20.5 feet on Aug. 28. The current record is 19.6 feet set on June 9, 2008. Flooding is expected to continue entering the village of Readstown.
At 2 p.m. on Aug. 28, the river was at 10.16 feet in Soldiers Grove. Flood stage is 13 feet. The river is expected to crest at 22.5 feet by 2 p.m. on Aug. 29, which would be a record. The current record is 21.6 feet, set on July 22, 1951. Last year, and in previous years, flooding has entered the park and part of the community of Soldiers Grove.
The river was at 7.4 feet at 10 a.m. on Aug. 28 in Gays Mills. It was at 9.05 feet at 2 p.m. on Aug. 28. It is expected to crest at 22 feet on Aug. 29, which would be a record. The current record was set at 20.4 feet on June 9, 2008. Flood stage at Gays Mills is 13 feet. Flood waters will certainly engulf the downtown and the near downtown area of Gays Mills as it has in the past, especially in 2007 and 2008. Following 2008, most of the downtown businesses and many residents in Gays Mills relocated to higher ground.
The river was at 7.25 feet at 10 a.m. on Aug. 28 at Steuben. Flood stage at Steuben is 12 feet. It was at 7.46 feet at 2 p.m. on Aug. 28. It is predicted to crest at 18.5 feet on Aug. 30 and then steadily drop. The record at Steuben was set at 19.2 feet on June 10, 2008. The river is expected to flood the park in Steuben and flow over part of County E, Highway 131, and perhaps other roadways. It is expected to flow up past Jo’s Kountry Bar again.
“The river will be about a foot higher here than it was last year,” said Emergency Government Director Jim Hackett at about 11 a.m. Tuesday morning.
