Following heavy rainfall earlier this week, the Yellow River has been placed under a Flood Warning, with water levels expected to continue rising into the weekend.

As of Friday morning, the Plymouth river gauge reported water levels at 12 feet. Forecasters anticipate the river will crest at 13.5 feet by Saturday morning, pushing the river into "minor" flood stage.

At the 13.5-foot mark, flooding is expected in low-lying areas surrounding the Yellow River. Within Plymouth, this includes several parks as well as some homes and businesses situated along the riverbanks. In rural Marshall County, agricultural fields and roads along the river are already experiencing or expecting flooding, though officials anticipate very minimal impacts to homes outside the city limits.

Sandbag Locations Available

To help residents and business owners protect their property, sandbags are currently available at two locations:

1. City of Plymouth Residents: Plymouth Street Department facility, located at 2124 Western Avenue.
2. County Residents (Outside Plymouth): Old Civil Defense building, located at 9591 King Rd in Plymouth (just south of US 30).

Officials note that both locations are "BYOS"—bring your own shovel to fill the bags. Should weather conditions or forecasts worsen, a more extensive sandbagging operation may be implemented.

Safety Warnings and Road Closures

The current river flooding compounds lingering flash flooding from earlier in the week, which has already forced the closure of several roads across the county.

Marshall County EMA Director Jack Garner strongly advises residents to exercise extreme caution. "If you encounter a flooded road, DO NOT drive through it! You never truly know how deep the water is or if the road underneath the water is still structurally sound," Garner warned.

Garner also urged the public to avoid wading into floodwaters, noting that the river can pick up various natural and biohazards when it breaches its banks.

For a complete and actively updated list of road closures and areas with high-water signage, residents are encouraged to visit the Marshall County EMA website at www.in.gov/counties/marshall-county-ema/news-and-information/active-alerts/.

Residents should stay tuned to local media and the Marshall County EMA for future updates as the situation develops.

flood_warning_article

3/3