Flash Flood in Lake County, Indiana

Flash flooding or significant flooding was reported across most of Lake County, including street closures due to flooding, basement flooding and creek, stream and river flooding. Interstate 80/94 was closed due to flooding between Cline and Calumet Avenues. Parts of Interstate 65 were closed due to flooding. In Lake Station, 300 to 400 homes were evacuated. In Merrillivlle, part of 73rd Avenue was washed away, where three cars were damaged. In Dyer, Hart Ditch overtopped its banks which flooded the Briar Ridge Subdivision. Flood waters were several feet deep in parts of Hobart after flood waters overflowed Lake George. Numerous vehicles were submerged or abandoned.

The remnants of hurricane Ike moved across northwest Indiana during the morning hours of September 14th. This system produced a second round of very heavy rain after a period of heavy rain just 24 hours earlier across many of the same areas. Flash flooding was common as many creeks, streams and rivers swelled over their banks, some reaching all-time high record crests. Flooding was extensive and widespread with some of the worse flooding located near streams and rivers. Storm total rainfall amounts for September 13th and September 14th (combined) included, 11.02 inches near Valparaiso, 10.69 inches in Porter, 10.59 inches in Chesterton, 10.41 inches in Lakes of the Four Seasons, 9.37 inches in Merrilliville, 9.04 inches in Crown Point, 8.95 inches near Hammond, 8.31 inches in Hebron, 7.61 inches in Whiting, 7.43 inches in De Motte, 6.86 inches in Munster, 6.16 inches near Wheatfield, 5.85 inches in Rensselaer and 5.85 inches in Kentland.