Flooding - Day Two - Gary and Lake Station

I found myself again going back to the floodwaters today to document the disaster that struck my community. Who needs to go to the south for hurricanes when the remnants of them can cause such massive damage. I passed up a helicopter flight so my boy Guy Rhodes (the link to his blog is on the right for his great aerials-->) can go up and I wanted to spend as much time as I could on the ground or more appropriately...in the water. I didn't have to deal with fogged lenses today, just an aperture ring that wasn't stopping down consistently. Again I felt lucky to have a dry basement and been able to take a warm shower after walking through the mud and water on Monday. Although my wife told me if i came back with dirty clothes and shoes again tomorrow from the flooding, I would be on my own to clean them.




24th and Clay - Gary, Indiana



I walk up to rising water and a boat coming in with multiple dogs on it. They guys on the boat invited me along for a ride and we pulled a few more people out of their homes and continued searching for more people and pets to be rescued. The guys on the boat were there because no on else was coming to help them. The Gary fire department did come out with a boat and help get people out, but the volunteers that came out to help their neighbors, even if their home was underwater as well are the real heroes of the day.


Shawn Conklin of Lake Station carries a box of puppies that was rescued from the floodwaters that consumer the area around 24th and Cass Monday in Gary.

Robert Barnthouse of Portage steers a boat of rescue volunteers trying to find anymore people that need help around 24th and Cass Monday in Gary.

A pedal-powered version of the "Grave Digger" monster truck stays afloat near the intersection of 24th Avenue and Allen Street Gary Monday.

Residents walk in waist-deep water westbound on 24th Avenue pulling boats full of belongings Monday in Gary.

Gary firefighters walk back boats with rescued people west on 24th Street towards Clay Avenue Monday in Gary.
Rory McDaniel of Lake Station jokes around with other passengers while rowing them to safety on 24th Street Monday in Gary.

A sign of the times? I really wanted this image to be the flag of the newspaper for the day instead of the normal text that reads "Post-Tribune" on the top of our paper........but alas....





28th and Oklahoma - Lake Station, Indiana

I heard about this area from a firefighter and was able to hook up with an Indiana national Guard team with a 5 Ton 6x6 truck. In between searching for people, I found myself trying to find good details of what I was seeing. With a situation like this, I'm tempted to leave it as wide as possible to give the subjects the best reference in time and space. I tried (and was mildly successful) and grabbing a few details as i rumbled around with the National Guard.


Ruben Mendez, Superintendent of Public Works in Lake Station, carries Jovanni Munoz, 3, of Lake Station to an Indiana National Guard truck Monday in Lake Station.

Residents walk down the flooded Arizona Street in Lake Station Monday.

A fire hydrant remains partially submerged along 29th Street in Lake Station Monday afternoon.

Indiana National Guardsman Private 1st Class Julio Rameriez tries to wring the water out of his pants and shoes after walking through waist-high water to evacuate Lake Station residents Monday afternoon in Lake Station.





The End.



for now.......