High Water mark Revealed at 17th Street and Mill Race Park

WHEREAS:           On June 7, 2008, Bartholomew County and the City of Columbus were devastated by      

                              a natural disaster that residents had not witnessed for more than one hundred years;

                              and,

WHEREAS:           Following days of heavy rains, the rivers and streams began to rise swiftly, overtaking the banks and lands of the city and county in areas that normally are not affected by flash flooding; and,

WHEREAS:           Residents were forced to seek higher ground in search of safety from their homes, flooded streets, and businesses and the sound of sirens and helicopters filled the air; 

WHEREAS:           Water flooded the parking lot at Columbus Regional Hospital then filled the basement and the first floor forcing all patients to be evacuated and private citizens responded all across  Bartholomew County to assist victims of the flood; and,

WHEREAS:           We continue to keep in our thoughts and prayers the families of those who lost their lives seeking refuge during the flood; and,

WHEREAS:           The term “100-year flood” is misleading because it leads people to believe that it happens only once every 100 years.  The term “100-year flood” is really a statistical designation, that there is a 1-in-a-100 chance that a flood this size will happen during any year; and,

WHEREAS:          Residents, City, County and State employees, emergency service providers, friends, neighbors, surrounding communities and even strangers demonstrated their resolve in this time of crisis as we began rebuilding our community;  and,

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Fred L. Armstrong, Mayor of the City of Columbus and Bartholomew County Commissioners Larry S. Kleinhenz, Paul Franke and Carl H. Lienhoop, extend our sincere thanks to all who assisted in any way and express our most sincere appreciation for the tremendous outpouring of cooperation and support, and, we do hereby proclaim June 7, 2009 as the first

FLOOD ANNIVERSARY DAY

in the City of Columbus and County of Bartholomew and ask all to join in this day of commemoration.

                                                                                          In witness whereof……

                                                                                          Fred L. Armstrong, Mayor

                                                                                          Larry S.  Kleinhenz, Co. Commissioner, Chairman

                                                                                          Paul Franke, Co. Commissioner, Member

                                                                                          Carl  H. Lienhoop, Co. Commissioner, Member