Flood disaster hits county
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Ongoing emergency Carroll County's new Emergency Management Agency Director Dave McDowell was a victim of flooding along the Tippecanoe River below the Oakdale Dam in Jefferson Township on Tuesday. His home is pictured second from left. Many county residents had to evacuate. See page 8A for more flood pictures. Comet photo by Debbie Lowe

The new director of Carroll County Emergency Management Agency got more than he bargained for after his first week on the job. Not only did he have duties to the county to coordinate emergency response activities for a sudden massive flood, but he was also a victim of the flood.

Dave McDowell, of rural Carroll County, was named EMA director Dec. 31 by commissioners. McDowell graduated from Carroll High School and has lived on the Tippecanoe River since 1993. He told the Comet he drove away from his home at 5 a.m. Tuesday and by 8:15 a.m. a county emergency was declared by commissioners, at his recommendation.

"We have six county boats working evacuation," he said describing the ongoing emergency. "And the Indiana State Police has a scuba team out there."

McDowell

"We have mass numbers of swift water-rescue personnel and vehicles working to help out," he added.

McDowell said an erroneous report from the National Weather Service was issued about the stability of the Norway Dam earlier in the day. He said NIPSCO has not issued a warning because the electric company, who owns the dam, does not believe it has been compromised. However, the alert was a "big problem" for EMA because of the number of concerned citizens living below the dam.

"Everybody in low-lying areas is affected," McDowell clarified. "This came up fast and lots of people were caught flat-footed."

The American Red Cross established an evacuation center at the First Presbyterian Church in Delphi on Indiana St. across from the library. Buses from the Delphi Community School Corporation as well as the city-owned trolley were enlisted to transport flood victims from their homes and the vicinity of the river to the center. However, one DCSC bus, not being used to transport victims, was observed next to a house on the river surrounded by flood water.

"I was notified this morning at 7 a.m.," Delphi Mayor Randy Strasser told the Comet Tuesday. "EMA contacted us about using the trolley to help with transportation after that."

"We don't have any flooding issues in the city right now," Strasser continued. "But however we can help the county out, we'd be happy to do that."

As of 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, McDowell, working with the State Department of Homeland Security, reported there were no injuries or loss of life associated with the tragedy.

"That's really good," he said. "Everybody willing to come out has been evacuated at this time. There are quite a few homes flooded and damaged and some residents have been displaced."

A concern about looters arose with law enforcement. In response to that, ISP will help patrol the area along with the sheriff's department. Mc- Dowell said he opened the emergency shelter in the basement of the courthouse for troopers to have food and sleeping accommodations while they are in the area.