CLAY COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — As you drive around, you may notice a lot of standing water on roadways around the Wabash Valley. Wednesday, WTWO/WAWV Reporter Brayton Riley was with the Department of Transportation as they worked to relieve the overflowing water.
Last week, severe weather and daily rain left our area washed in flooded roads, flood warnings and high water.
In Clay County, the Eel River running underneath State Road 59 has multiple logs and branches that are creating a blockage in the water, not allowing it to flow naturally.
That’s why on Wednesday, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) along with the Indiana National Guard worked to remove the blockage to ensure the river is flowing back to normal.
“So, of course, this is not something you see every day with INDOT and the National Guard out here cleaning out the Eel River, or any river for that matter. This is definitely a substantial storm that we’ve seen so it’s important that we clean this up and take care of it as best as possible and as quickly as possible. So, there is minimal impact on the traveling public,” said Blake Dollier, Public Relations for INDOT West Central District.
Indiana National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Amy Hoover said it’s important to get this log jam removed so water doesn’t flow into the levies, which would then cause farmland and residential areas to flood.
Hoover adds that the National Guard is called into situations like this because they have the right equipment.
“Here at the National Guard we have all types of construction equipment that we use for a variety of reasons, but we also use it for just construction and what we are using today is a combination of dump trucks and a hydraulic excavator,” said Hoover.
Even though today’s main goal was to remove the blockage, Dollier said it was also a chance for the Indiana National Guard and INDOT to extend their working relationship.
“Well, I think anytime any local, state or national entity can work together it’s just really important that we have a partnership and that we are working hand in hand. Of course, we have the river here that needs cleaned out, we have our state roadways. And the National Guard being able to help our citizens here, in a rural area of Clay County, is just a really big bonus to have that going and these partnerships just make for better use of taxpayer dollars and better-taking care of the citizens of Indiana,” said Dollier.
“The relationship between INDOT, the Indiana Homeland Security as well as the National Guard, it allows us to respond to emergency needs of the citizens of Indiana as quickly as possible to get us back to our daily way of life,” said Hoover.
As crews are working on this area, state leaders are asking drivers to pay attention to high water signs and if a road is closed, seek an alternative route.
