Published: June 10, 2008 08:16 am      

Rain, rain … go away

Area residents welcome clear skies, dry conditions

DANVILLE — The Vermilion County area dodged another liquid bullet Monday.

Forecasters had called for as much as 1.5 inches of additional rains, following the 7-plus inches the county received Tuesday through Saturday.

The Web site http://vermilionweather.com showed a total of 0.13 inches of rain in Danville since midnight.

Saturday’s 3.86 inches of rain caused flooding across much of the southern part of the county, filling storm drains and saturating fields.

Residents in southern Edgar County and around Terre Haute, Ind., weren’t so lucky Monday. Terre Haute received about 7 inches of rain Saturday, according to the Tribune Star, which brought the city’s total to 13 inches in June. More than 2,000 people were evacuated from their homes there Saturday.

Officials there expected as much as 3 inches more of rain Monday as a band of heavy storms passed through.

Vermillion and Vigo counties are among those designated as disaster areas in Indiana.

With Monday’s rain out of the way, Danville and Vermilion County are supposed to see several clear days in a row. National Weather Service meteorologists call for clear skies through Friday when rains are predicted to kick in again.

River conditions continued to improve. The Vermilion River peaked at 21.56 feet early Sunday morning, well above the 18-foot flood stage.

By this morning, however, the river level had fallen to about 12.5 feet, according to the National Weather Service.

Danville/Vermilion County Emergency Management Agency Director Ted Fisher said the Middle Fork and North Fork rivers also were looking good.

Township roads, however, are feeling the brunt of the force as a result of the continuous rainfall. Catlin Township reported a drainage structure failed as a result of the weekend rains, while last week Pilot Township lost a bridge.

Vermilion County Highway Engineer Bob Andrews said the roads and drainage structures are taking a hit as a result of the rains.

“Small drainage structures like that are not designed to handle that much water,” he said, adding age is a problem as well.

The county suffered a washout alongside the road east of Ridge Farm. Otherwise, county-owned roads are holding up so far.

Andrews said the county runs the roads each morning, particularly after a rain, to confirm the status.

The Danville/Vermilion County EMA office is working to put together a damage list for the county to submit to the government for any assistance funds.

Fisher estimated not enough damage existed to receive funds from the government, pointing out the excess damage necessary in Watseka after flooding problems there earlier this year.

The list is incomplete at this time, with a lack of volunteers restricting the amount of work that is done.

Fisher, who has taken care of the businesses hit by the weather, said he was considering a day and night session today to reach more of the area.