Ohio River flooding forces evacuations in Utica, Indiana

UTICA, Ind. (WDRB) -- Dozens of people in southern Indiana are being forced to move to higher ground as the Ohio River flooding rises.

Some streets in Utica are now underwater as residents are in evacuation mode. Some families had to pack and move their valuables to higher ground Monday.

"Third trip, we made a trip last night, just made a trip today, now we got to get the big stuff out," said Matt Dunn, who lives in Utica. "When you go to bed at night, it just barely broke the riverfront, and you get up two hours later, and it's your street. It rises a lot quicker than it did seven years ago."

Because of the flooding, town leaders have restricted travel to just people who live there. Many of the roads are already blocked.

"People are hurting up here, that's why it will be harder to get in here than Pendleton Prison," said Steve Long, Utica Town Board president. "We've only got one road coming into Utica, and that's Old Salem. We're asking that people just please stay out until we get our town cleaned up."

Officials are asking people to avoid driving through the area because of the potential danger.

Long said some people are staying despite the rising flood waters.

"We have about 50 homes of people trying to live on their second floor or they're flooded on the first and moved out," Long said. "The people up here, they know how to do a flood."

For some people, it's important to check on neighbors.

"I'm just riding around and checking out everything, making sure everybody is doing OK and seeing if I can help them out," said Richard Kroger.

Dunn and his family have been through flooding before, and aren't taking any chances with their lives or valuables.

"2018 was 35.7 (feet), and put it on my front porch," he said. "When they predicted 36 (feet) I knew it was going to get in."

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