Page 7 - aruba-today-20180224

A7
U.S. NEWS Saturday 24 February 2018

Midwest flooding expected to last through weekend

forced from their homes were expected to begin re- told the newspaper that he
and water-related deaths ceding. Hundreds of homes was grateful to have flood
were reported this week and businesses were im- insurance. He described
in Michigan, Illinois and pacted, the Lansing State life this week in the house
Oklahoma. Indiana Gov. Journal reported. as “hell,” noting couch
Eric Holcomb toured flood- “We are far from done with cushions floating in water
ravaged parts of northern this,” Tobin said. “We are in his basement. “After the
Indiana on Friday. Lansing going to have serious water water started coming into
Emergency Management levels. In some neighbor- the basement, there was
Chief Mike Tobin cautioned hoods, it will be short as a just nothing we could do,”
people to stay off flooded few days. Other ones could Ezzo said. Officials haven’t
roads and not to expect potentially be as long as a yet estimated the extent of
to immediately return to week plus.” Along the Red building damage, which is
evacuated homes even Cedar River in Lansing, concentrated in low-lying
though floodwaters there 32-year-old Michael Ezzo areas. q
Goshen firefighters pull a boat containing three women who
were rescued from a group home along Denver Avenue
Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018, in Goshen Ind.
(Ben Mikesell/The News via AP)

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Richmond, Ohio, more
Flooding that prompted than 20 miles (32 kilome-
evacuations in parts of the ters) southeast of Cincinna-
Midwest persisted Friday ti. He said the opening song
in Michigan, Indiana, and picked for Friday night's
Ohio and was expected to music was "Cry Me A River."
last through the weekend The rising Ohio River levels
in areas that have been led to the closure Thurs-
swamped by high water day of southern Indiana's
from heavy rains and melt- Horseshoe Casino at least
ing snow. through Sunday. The casino
Waters receded in South is housed on a riverboat.
Bend and Goshen, Indiana, The Kalamazoo County
but flooding remained Sheriff's Office in southwest-
there and elsewhere. The ern Michigan said the Kal-
National Weather Service amazoo River set a record
said a number of Michigan Friday morning, reaching
rivers could see record lev- 11.25 feet (3.4 meters), sur-
els in the coming days. In passing a record set in 1947
Ohio, water swamped more of 10.94 feet (3.33 meters).
roadways and basements The river was expected to
and forecasters expected crest Friday night
the Ohio River could reach "During the next 24-36
levels not seen since the re- hours flood conditions
gion's deadly 1997 floods. are expected to worsen,"
Restaurants and other busi- the sheriff's office said in
ness and recreation spots a news release. A dam
from Cincinnati for miles on the river was opened
east along the river closed, Thursday to relieve pressure
as water cut off roadways on it, Undersheriff James
and swamped parks. Fore- VanDyken said. The city of
casters warned people liv- Grand Rapids closed the
ing along rivers, streams Grand River to recreational
and creeks in southern use, including anglers and
Ohio, southeastern Indiana watercraft, with violators
and northern Kentucky to subject to arrest or fines.
be especially cautious and Flooding prompted local
prepared for rapid rises. states of emergency in sev-
"We're trying to keep spirits eral Indiana and Michigan
up," said Bob Lees, owner communities and coun-
of Front Street Cafe in New ties. Shelters took in people