Johnson County residents prepare for potential rain this weekend

WHITELAND, Ind. (WISH) - With Isaac due to move through Indiana this week, the Department of Homeland Security is asking Hoosiers to be ready in case of flooding.

24-Hour News 8 headed to Johnson County, an area that received serious flooding after storms in 2008.

Johnson County Emergency Management is keeping an eye on the storm, and residents can fill up their own sandbags at the highway department.

Betty Williams has lived in a neighborhood in Whiteland prone to flooding for more than 40 years.

In 2008, her home, along with others around it, received the worst flooding she’d ever seen.

“I just try not to think about it,” Williams said.

Franklin, parts of Whiteland, and much of Johnson County was flooded then.

Williams says insurance didn’t cover it, and she is still rebuilding parts of the home inside.

“It’s like, okay, I don’t know if I could go through this one more time,” she said.

Her neighbors say their home still has signs of water damage on it.

“It went right to the bottom of that doorstep, all of this was underwater,” explained Brian Young. Young says there is one drain near his home, and he’ll work to clear that drain before the weekend. He says a railroad track built up near their homes ends up working as a dam, and keeping water on their side of the tracks.

 “The key is, how fast do we get the rain? How much do we get, and how fast do we get it?” said Joe Wainscott, the Executive Director of Indiana’s Department of Homeland Security.

The department is monitoring the storm carefully as it heads this way.

“Our reservoirs, our streams, our rivers are in good shape to accept that type of runoff without a lot of problems. If we get it all at once, like we did in 2008, there may be more problems. Those are the things we’re watching for,” said Wainscott.

They’re asking residents to be ready for anything, just in case.

Betty Williams says she’ll look into getting some sandbags, and says, “Right now, I don’t know what we can really do, just hope and pray everything will work.”

Beginning Friday in Marion County, homeowners can pick up sandbags at the DPW garage starting at 7:30 AM. In Greenwood, emergency officials are planning to add staff to fire and EMS so that their rigs are full. They also have an Emergency Operations Center they’ll set up if need be.

See the recommendations below for residents, sent to 24-Hour News 8 from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

Prepare for flooding

• Keep up to date on local conditions – follow TV and radio reports from your area, or visit www.weather.gov ( http://mobile.weather.gov on your phone).
• Review your tornado plan – know where to go should strong winds or a tornado occur. Basements are a primary choice, followed by rooms with no exterior walls and no windows.
• Check your family’s emergency supply kit – Store enough food, water, medication and other essentials to take care of your family and pets for at least 72 hours.
• Remember food safety – power outages may happen as a result of a storm or flooding. If your home loses power, help keep food safe by grouping items together in the freezer or storing them in a cooler.
• Have a communication plan - be sure friends and family know how to contact you. Remember, sometimes text messages may get through when a phone call cannot.

Stay safe during flooding

• Avoid walking or driving through any flooded areas – it takes only six inches of fast-moving flood water to knock over an adult and only two feet to move a vehicle. If a road is closed, find another route.
• Follow the directions of public safety officials – Whether an evacuation, road closure or request to stay at home or stay away from certain areas, orders from public safety officials are for your well being. Follow their guidance.