Devastating floods hit Northeast Jefferson County and Northwest Switzerland District
EMA will provide updates throughout the week
Update from EMA September 5th
**UPDATE** For immediate release The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office has confirmed the identity of the female remains found along Brushy Fork as the missing resident of Block 8600 of E. Brushy Fork Road. Her home was swept away by flash floods on Saturday. The condolences of the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency go out to the victim’s family.
The Jefferson County Highway Department continues work on the East Brushy Fork Road in northeast Jefferson County. They work diligently to make the streets passable for local residents. Damage to bridges and roads will continue for the foreseeable future and permanent repairs will be made as soon as possible. Non-residents are asked to avoid the area and give crews space to do their work.
Below you will find the current road closure notices from the County Roads Office
Bridge #103 on Brushy Fork Rd, between 7500 block of Brushy Fork Rd and McCarty Hill Rd
Bridge #154 Dow Ridge Rd, between Brushy Fork Rd and Tate Ridge Rd Bridge
Bridge #53 on Brushy Fork Rd and Brushy Fork Rd, between Sugan Hollow Rd and Tate Ridge Rd
The bridges listed above are closed indefinitely. We will update when we get them fixed. Some of the county roads are passable, but work needs to be done. Our crews will be hard at work over the coming days to get the streets back in order. Use caution in the area due to the damaged roads and for the safety of all staff trying to restore these badly affected areas.
We will update if we find that other roads or bridges require special attention. We thank our crews and residents of the affected area for their patience and awareness.
The Jefferson County Commissioners have signed a declaration of emergency, which is the first step in applying for state and federal assistance. Local emergency response officials spent the day Monday with Indiana Department of Homeland Security officials in the area. Damage assessments continue as they go through the process of securing this support. Initial assessment results show that 20 addresses along the street are affected. If residents have damage that officials may not be aware of, they are asked to contact the Office of Emergency Management at 812.265.7616.
First press release from EMA Director Troy Morgan on Sunday 4th September
Flash flooding occurred in Jefferson County, Indiana at approximately 4:30 p.m. Saturday, September 3, 2022. Excessive rains in Switzerland and Jefferson County fell in short order, resulting in a devastating flash flood along Brushy Fork Creek in northeast Jefferson County. Local rain gauges report more than 9 inches in three hours
An initial 911 report from the area indicated a resident was unable to leave her apartment at Block 8000 of E Brushy Fork Road because of water. Responders have had difficulty accessing the address due to flooded roads, damaged or blocked bridges, and debris obstructions. Upon arrival, it appeared that the property’s structures had been washed away. No residents were found. Over the next few hours, extensive damage became visible
Multiple reports indicated that five residents were missing. By 8:00 p.m., all but one had been located and no injuries were reported. Sometime after dark, the search had to be suspended until dawn on Sunday. Before the search resumed, the body of a woman believed to be missing was discovered a considerable distance downriver from the missing person’s address. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office conducts the death investigation and identity verification.
Initial assessment of Brushy Fork Road this morning found twenty addresses involved, two houses destroyed and three others with minor damage. The remaining properties all took non-structural damage.
Roads and bridges in the area have been badly damaged and many are impassable. Non-residents are encouraged to avoid the area and allow authorities to work in the area.
Responsible authorities: Jefferson County Sheriff Indiana Canaan Fire Department Conservation Officers Madison Fire Department Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency Jefferson County Highway Coroner’s Office of Jefferson County Jefferson County Emergency Communications