Town’s rebuilding continues

As the three-month anniversary of Wayne County’s catastrophic flooding arrives, Cambridge City leaders are noting progress in the town’s recovery.

Jim McLane, town council president, said temporary fixes to keep the water plant operating have been completed after the Aug. 12 flooding. It is operating under its own power, and the generators have been removed.

However, expensive permanent repairs remain to prevent similar flood damage to water utility infrastructure. Equipment will be moved higher, but that solution will take months, McLane said.

He noted that the town’s claims to the Federal Emergency Management Agency are being processed, and it’s hoped that funds will be approved toward the town’s debris removal costs, along with restoring the flooded city building and Creitz Park.

He’s optimistic that some federal funds will be allocated for the repairs, but the town would still need to provide 25% of the money required for those extensive projects.

Meanwhile, McLane is pleased with progress that Cambridge City Youth League volunteers are making in soliciting donations of funds and equipment to restore the ball diamonds. He foresees a successful restoration of those athletic facilities in Creitz Park.

However, when it comes to the fates of individual homes and commercial buildings, McLane is still awaiting information. Tetra Tech has completed its assessment of structures with substantial damage. McLane said he hopes to receive a report with more details about the scope of the damage later this week.

Because property owners can appeal those findings for a brief time after their assessments are completed, the town is probably weeks away from knowing the conditions of those properties, and whether they will ultimately be rebuilt or demolished. He said it was important for the town to utilize Tetra Tech’s services to provide owners with fair assessments conducted by experts in that field.

While he doesn’t have current numbers of those who remain in temporary lodging, McLane said he’s aware that a lot of residents are still not back in their homes. Some still live with relatives.

With the holidays and cold weather approaching, McLane said it’s not going to be a good winter for some of the town’s residents, and he wishes he could turn the clock back to the time before the flood damage.

No-cost support remains available for residents in the weeks and months ahead, no matter where they’re living temporarily.

Volunteers through the Wayne County Long Term Recovery Group are continuing to check on those who filed a damage report through Indiana’s 211 system.

Organizers aim to connect each affected party with a case manager and resources if needed, but some residents have not responded to share their needs or to say they no longer desire additional assistance.

The recovery group wants to continue serving or closing those cases, so those who haven’t been contacted or haven’t responded to prior attempts to reach them are urged to call 765-312-4699 and leave a message with their name and phone number, or complete a form at wwn.to/ltrgintake. Those with additional questions can email [email protected].