Purdue Extension flood resources available for homeowners, farmers

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - With persistent, often heavy rainfall triggering flood alerts throughout Indiana during the last week of April and first week of May, many Hoosiers were concerned about possible damage to homes and newly planted grain crops.

In response, Purdue University’s Extension Disaster Education Network has compiled a list of online resources that could help Indiana homeowners and farmers coping with the storms’ aftermath.

The Flood Resources page, available at https://ag.purdue.edu/extension/eden/Pages/flood-info.aspx, provides links to informational materials from a number of agencies, including Purdue Extension, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Indiana Board of Animal Health, said Abby Hostetler, Extension disaster specialist.

“No one expects to be affected by a disaster, but disasters can affect anyone ,” Hostetler said. “Purdue Extension resources can help homeowners guard against flooding and educate themselves on the proper steps to recovery in the event their home is affected by flood waters.”

During the floods of 2015, EDEN produced a website with additional resources for homeowners and farmers. The site is available at https://ag.purdue.edu/extension/eden/floods/Pages/default.aspx and covers topics ranging from cleaning up flooded basements to managing crops in unusually wet conditions.

The heavy rainfall in recent weeks has led to school closings and advisories for motorists to avoid high standing water in roadways.

Ken Scheeringa, associate state climatologist based at Purdue, said he had seen daily rainfall totals of more than 8 inches in Dubois and Pike counties and two-week totals of nearly 13 inches in Pike and Posey counties. The average monthly precipitation for April in southwest Indiana generally is 3.90 inches.

“The rainfall has been torrential in spots,” Scheeringa said.           

Writer: Darrin Pack, 765-494-8415, dpack@purdue.edu 

Source: Abby Hostetler, 765-494-4390, alillpop@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Shari Finnell, Manager/Media Relations and Public Information, sfinnell@purdue.edu  
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