Flood — Fulton, Indiana

2008-01-08 to 2008-01-09 · near Rochester, Fulton, Indiana

Event narrative

Numerous roads across Fulton county were at least partially, if not fully impassable with flood waters from low areas, creeks, streams and rivers. County officials closed all roads to general travel from the evening of January 8th to the morning hours of the 9th. Reports of a Chevy Tahoe in deep water with children trapped was received by dispatch centers in Fulton and Kosciusko counties around 750 am Tuesday morning. The vehicle was located on County Road 600 North between 825 and 900 East near the Fulton/Kosciusko county line. The driver of the vehicle, a 29 year old female, reported coming over the top of a hill and unknowningly drove into flowing water over 600 North. By the time she realized what was going on the vehicle stalled and was subsequently carried by nearly seven feet of water into an adjacent field. The driver was able to rescue three of the five children, ages four, one and three months. However, flood waters overtook the vehicle and two children, a two year old girl and five year old boy drowned in the SUV. Due to the fast current, a boat and front end loader were used in the rescue. A Mentone firefighter suffered minor injuries during the rescue.

Wider weather episode

An unseasonable moist atmosphere and slow moving cold front set the stage for the training of rain and thunderstorms across much of northern Indiana. In addition, a dense snowpack rapidly melted as a result of the warm temperatures and rainfall, resulting in rapid rises on river and streams as well as widespread problems with flooding of low areas and ditches. Rainfall amounts ranging from a couple inches to locally over 7 inches was reported, with the highest amounts in and around White county.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (41.1026, -86.2501)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 76989. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.