KOKOMO – A mix of tornado concerns and severe weather Monday evening through Tuesday led to cancellations at the Howard County 4-H fair and significant flooding in parts of the county.
After multiple tornado warnings from the National Weather Service, a severe thunderstorm watch and flash flooding warnings throughout Monday night and into Tuesday morning, local officials dealt with myriad road closures on Tuesday and signs of damage in parts of the county.
A tornado warning was first issued Monday evening as a weather system displaying possible funnel clouds moved into Howard County. Notably, several tornadoes touched down in southern Cass County near the same time.
Howard County’s initial tornado warning expired at 9:45 p.m. A second warning, for the western part of the county, was announced late Monday night.
The second warning expired at midnight after officials determined that the storm, previously seen as capable of producing a tornado and located 15 miles south of Logansport, had weakened below severe limits.
Following the expiration of tornado concerns, the county’s focus shifted solely to potential flooding.
Throughout Monday night and all of Tuesday, Howard County was placed under caution for both flash flooding and Wildcat Creek flooding, often at the same time. Parts of Tipton County experienced similar warnings.
Howard County Emergency Management Agency Director Janice Hart estimated that at least 4 inches of rain fell in the northwest and northeast parts of Howard County through Tuesday evening. She said the northwest part of the county saw the worst flooding.
On Tuesday afternoon, the NWS reported that the Wildcat Creek’s stage, in Kokomo, was slightly above 11 feet. A flood stage is 10 feet. At 12 feet, Wildcat Creek overflows into Kokomo parks, and flooding of agricultural land is possible outside Kokomo.
The storms caused noteworthy home damage at some locations in Howard County. In one instance, in the 2200 block of North Buckeye Street, a basement wall collapsed, requiring the family shut off electric and gas to the house.
Other basement walls were also reported to have collapsed.
In relation, Hart referenced sandbag requests as an indication that flooding had already become an issue or worry for many in the community.
If someone requires sandbags, they can get the bags from the EMA training facility at 627 S. Berkley Road, and the sand from the Kokomo Street Department, 720 E. Boulevard St., the Howard County Highway Department, 625 S. Berkley Road, or the lower level of Kokomo Fire Station 1, 215 W. Superior St. Residents are asked to bring their own shovels.
In Kokomo, Touby Pike from North Street to Morgan Street, and Ohio Street from Lordeman Street to Morgan Street remained closed for much of the day.
Other flooding was seen on Dixon Road just north of Kmart, on Berkley Road, at the intersection of Ohio and Lordeman streets and elsewhere.
In fact, the storms required Ivy Tech Community College to close Tuesday due to flooding throughout the campus, which damaged some offices and left standing water early Tuesday morning. Clean up is ongoing, according to Marcia Worland, communications director at the campus.
And in some parts of Kokomo, vehicles were overwhelmed by the storms, with high water rising above car hoods and brake lights.
The Howard County 4-H Fair received some flooding but continued throughout Tuesday. The crowning of Miss Howard County was moved to the Eastern Performing Arts Center, and the events at the Northwest Grandstand were canceled for the evening.
The fair will continue throughout the week unless a tornado warning is in effect.
Significant flooding also occurred at Kokomo Speedway. The speedway’s CFO, Jill Demonbreun, said officials will know more Wednesday once they are able to better access the facility, but that the property’s cameras show there is over a foot of water in the front buildings.
Miami County Emergency Management director Kris Marks said the county received some reports of tree and structural damage due to Monday night’s storm, though it was unclear as of Tuesday morning whether a tornado touched down in the county. Marks could not be reached Tuesday afternoon for further comment.
Tipton County officials reported there was little to no storm damage throughout the county.
by George Myers and Caele Pemberton
July 12, 2017
