Flash Flood — Porter, Indiana

2008-09-14 · near Ogden Dunes, Porter, Indiana

Event narrative

Flash flooding or significant flooding was reported across most of Porter County, including street closures due to flooding, basement flooding and creek, stream and river flooding. Two men were sucked into a culvert while trying to rescue a boy in flood waters in Chesterton. The boy survived but both men drowned. A sinkhole developed and swallowed the back of a fire truck in Valparaiso.

Wider weather episode

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.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (41.6240, -87.2230)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 135639. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.