Flood Information

Local Flood Hazards

Floods of the White River and Killbuck Creek are caused by runoff from general, and/or intense rainfall. Other areas of flooding concern are from the Boland Ditch and Pittsford Ditch. Although floodwaters are not as deep, they still cover streets and yards and can flood cars, garages, basements and lower floors.

Flooding usually occurs during the winter and spring; however, floods have occurred during all seasons of the year and may occur with little or no warning.

Flood flow stages on the White River can rise from normal flow to flood peaks from 24 to 42 hours with channel velocities ranging from 6 to 12 ft. per second. Flood stage in Anderson is 10 ft., with base elevation being 825.02 ft. mean sea level – 1929 General Datum. The U.S. Geological Survey maintains the official gauging site, located on the west bank of the White River, near the old Tenth Street Bridge abutment.

Click here for Real-time River Information

Properties along these streams range from residential, commercial to industrial, each of which have been severely damaged by the floods of 1913 and 1964. Although large floods have occurred as recent as the July and September 2003 events, studies indicate that larger floods are possible.

Your property may be high enough that it was not flooded recently. However, it can still be flooded in the future because the next flood could be worse. If you are in the floodplain, the odds are that someday your property will be damaged.

Flood and Drainage Information

Drainage Area

White River at Anderson (USGS Gauge) 406.0 square miles
Killbuck Creek 104.0 square miles

Floodplain

Relatively flat 1,400 to 3,200 ft. wide

Slope

White River Between Muncie and Anderson average 3.94 ft. per mile 89 ft. in 22.6 miles
Killbuck Creek average 3.4 ft. per mile

Elevation at Gauge

White River at USGS Gauging Station (1929 General Datum) 825.02 mean sea level

Flooding

White River begins to overflow its banks at approximately 10 ft.

Velocities

Standard Project Flood – in channel 12 ft. per second - over bank areas 5 ft. per second

Levee

The levee that runs along the east bank of the White River from the entrance to Edgewater Park north to the Truman Bridge was recently re-built using city and federal funds. The new levee was completed in 2016, with certification effective March 15, 2019. The elevation of the levee is 842 ft.

Flood Characteristics

Flood flow stages on the White River can rise from normal flow to flood peaks in 24 to 42 hours with channel velocities ranging from 6 to 12 ft. per second. Key Flood Activities

12 ft.	Close off Edgewater Park
13 ft.	Close off Grand Avenue between Alexandria Pike & Broadway Notify residents along Short Hazlett, 1^st Street & Madison Avenue, 2^nd Street & Sycamore Street, and Riverside Drive to prepare for sandbag operations and to make preparations for possible evacuation. (dependent on forecast and rate of rise)
14 ft.	Manhole at Athletic Park behind pool starts to overflow Killbuck Creek begins to overflow into Aqua Gardens / Shadyside Lake – close off walking paths around lakes
15 ft.	Water will be into Derby Downs off Madison Avenue Water starts approaching 1^st Street & Henry Street and the areas of Irondale & Riverside Drive (sandbagging operations and voluntary evacuations should have already begun)
17 ft.	Water from Killbuck Creek and Aqua Gardens / Shadyside Lake will be near Alexandria Pike
17.5 ft.	Notify residents in / along the following areas to make preparations for evacuation: Park Place Hollywood Estates Alexandria Pike Close Cross Street between Alexandria Pike & State Street Floodwaters will start to fill into Phar-Mor lot Water Pollution Control – Dewey Street Plant is affected by floodwaters Athletic Park begins to fill
18.5 ft.	Close Alexandria Pike between Cross Street & Lindberg Road
19 ft.	Water will start overflowing the levee along 10^thStreet Close 8^th Street from the top of the Eisenhower Bridge to Park Avenue Hollywood Estates will begin being affected by floodwaters Close Main Street between 5^th Street & Milton Avenue
20 ft. (Predictions)	Expect levee in Park Place to fail Careful watch of all bridges will need to be conducted
24 ft. (Predictions)	Many roads will be impassible Bridges may be impassible or not safe for vehicular traffic Most of the northeast and northwest portions of the city will be under water Evacuations of the following areas should have occurred: Park Place Riverside Drive Irondale Alexandria Pike Hollywood Estates Phar-Mor business area Water Pollution Control – Dewey Street Plant Moss Island Road Rose Street Hazlett Street West 1^st Street, 2^nd Street, 3^rd Street, 6^th Street and 7^th Street Sycamore Street

Future Floods

Floods of the same or larger magnitude as those that have occurred in the past could occur in the future. The Army Corp of Engineers has run models with similar geographical and physiographical characteristics to determine the flooding potential. The models considered storms and floods that have occurred in regions of like topography, watershed cover and physical characteristics. These models have shown with the combination of the most adverse meteorological conditions over the basin, rainfall in excess of any that has been recorded is possible.

Various discussions of future floods have been mentioned as Intermediate Regional Flood and the Standard Project Flood.

Intermediate Regional Flood

The Intermediate Regional Flood is defined as one that could occur once in 100 years, on the average, although it could occur in any year. Or, a one percent chance of occurring in any given year, known as the 100 year flood.

Standard Project Flood

The Standard Project Flood is defined as a major flood that can be expected to occur from a severe combination of meteorological and hydrological conditions that is considered reasonably characteristic of the geographical area. This is also known as the 500 year flood.