With 120,000 sand bags, Madison County is preparing for storm

MADISON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — Madison County isn’t taking the incoming storm lightly. Emergency Management crews are filling 120,000 sand bags for county residents.

“Our concern, main concern, our first concern right now is out in the county,” said Tom Ecker, Executive Director for Madison County EMA.

Heavy rains over the past few days saturated the grounds and residents are watching the waters.

“We actually monitor it a lot,” said Sarah Bowmer from her front lawn in Anderson’s Edgewater Park Neighborhood.

“We have lights on the truck and we actually sit out here. Across the street it has gotten to the doors,” said Bowmer.

“Last time it did flood, it did get pretty bad and it was all in the roads and everything,” said Taylor Reed, who lives in the same neighborhood.

The sandbags can be picked up at the county’s Highway Department on West 8th Street.

“We’re not as concerned as we were 24 hours ago, but we’re still watching it,” said Ecker.

At one point, the county was preparing for five inches of rain. Expectations are much lower now, but the potential is still there.

“We’re still preparing for the worst, and we’re just hoping for the best,” said Tom Ecker.

They expect fields to flood first, then possibly the White River which is currently at six feet. Flood stage is 10 feet.

Bags can be picked up from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If conditions worsen, Ecker says they will remain open around the clock.