White River (IN) at Hazleton

1. 33.00 ftFlood waters are at the height of a flood approaching the March 1913 flood flow under current levee conditions. Local levees have never held water at such a height. Levee failures very likely. Evacuations necessary in Hazleton. Near by river settlements possibly totally destroyed. If the Brevoort levee fails...up to 50,000 acres of southern Knox County may flood including US highway 41 between Vincennes and Princeton. Flood waters may approach the southern outskirts of Vincennes.
2. 32.50 ftTop of Staff Gage at Hazleton. River is at a record height, but not record flood flow. A flood approaching the flow of January 1937 will overtop the current gage and mostly likely the Hazleton levee. People in the low areas of Hazleton evacuate.
3. 31.70 ftDuring the January 1937 flood, the Hazleton levee failed at this level. According to local residents, the Brevoort levee failed the next day and the water left Hazleton. A failure of the Brevoort levee would likely flood US Highway 41 and 50,000 acres of southern Knox County including the small towns of Cathlinette, Zigville, St. Thomas and Brevoort. A repeat of the January 1937 flood may cause the level at Hazleton to exceed 32 feet if all major levees hold.
4. 31.60 ftVery critical level for the Brevoort Levee located in southern Knox County. A failure at this level would likely flood US Highway 41...the major road between Princeton and Vincennes and up to 50,000 acres of southern Knox County. There were not any problems reported on this levee during the January 2005 flood.
5. 31.51 ftOn April 25, 2011 the Hazleton Fire Chief said that the Hazleton levee was surveyed on this date. The levee could stand at least a 31.5 foot flood crest and nearly 32 feet in some spots. The levee had been upgraded after the January 2005 flood.
6. 31.50 ftDuring the January 2005 flood, the White River crested at 31.5 feet. At this level the Hazleton levee which was reinforced with an estimated 100,000 sandbags and extended east about 150 yards. About half of the length of the levee was raised. The levee was sandbagged to 32 feet on the Hazleton gage. The levee partially failed at least once. These failures were sandbagged again to prevent more flooding. A failure of the Brevoort levee at this level would likely flood US Highway 41.
7. 31.00 ftDuring the January 2005 as the level continued to rise above 31 feet...personnel were order off the Hazleton levee and the towns people were informed that the levee would fail. Failure of the Brevoort Levee on the Knox County side may flood US Highway 41 and much of southern Knox County. Many evacuations are necessary. There were not any problems reported with the Brevoort Levee during the January 2005 flood.
8. 30.00 ftDuring the January 2005 as the flood levels continued to rise, the Hazleton levee was sandbagged to a height of 32 feet. Indiana Homeland Security had local freight train stopped because the vibration was shaking the Hazleton levee. Evacuation plans were made for those residents affected if the levee failed. This included the area of Hazleton generally west of State Road 56 in Hazleton. This is nearly half of this small town.
9. 29.00 ftDuring the January 2005 flood as the river rose over 29 feet...many boils occurred in the Hazleton levee. Extensive sandbagging was required to prevent levee failure.
10. 28.00 ftA major flood is in progress. Local levees are at critical levels. Flood fighting and/or evacuations is/are in progress. Oil fields and residential areas on the river side of the levees flood extensively. Many evacuations or relocations are necessary. Sandbagging may begin in Hazleton. On April 27, 2011 one home in Decker in southern Knox County was sandbagged.
11. 27.00 ftWater is more than 2 feet deep in west end of Hazleton.
12. 26.00 ftPeople in residential cabins on the riverward side of the levee generally relocate. Many local roads are completely impassable. Oil fields are inaccessible. The remaining water pumps are installed on the west end of Hazleton.
13. 25.00 ftExtensive river flooding continues in northern Gibson County. Numerous county roads were flooded in March 2011.
14. 24.75 ftWater begins to come in the street at the corner of West 2nd Street and Brown Street in the town of Hazleton. A six inch water pump is installed at 2nd and Brown Street to keep water off the streets.
15. 24.00 ftA flood of this height causes great agricultural damage from June through August. Some river cabin residents evacuate. Most local roads flood. Several oil fields are inaccessible.
16. 22.00 ftIn agricultural season, extensive flooding of bottomlands and some of the higher bottomlands is in progress. High water surrounds residents in river cabins. Oil fields and local roads flood.
17. 20.00 ftMost of the low bottomlands flood. Flooding begins in higher bottomlands. High water affects any residents in Pottsville river cabins. Pottsville Road...North C Street on river side of railroad tracks and Catt Street near U.S. Highway 41 are flooded. Water is near or starting on Giro Road in the vicinity of submerged Pottsville Road. Oil stripped fields flood. Flood gates must be installed at Hazleton.
18. 19.00 ftFlood waters cover the Hazleton softball field. Pottsville Road is underwater and impassable.
19. 18.00 ftFloodwaters cover much low ground in agricultural season. Low lying oil fields...Pottsville Road and possibly a few other low rural roads flood. High water isolates Pottstown, a river cabin community.
20. 17.50 ftFlood water is near or starting on Pottsville Road. Low bottomlands are increasingly affected by flood waters.
21. 17.00 ftLowest reading available from the Hazleton Staff Gage. Since the 1930s the White River has moved from the "old wellhouse" to several hundred yards from the "old wellhouse". The river returns to the "old wellhouse" around 17 to 17.5 feet.
22. 16.00 ftFlooding begins in lowest bottomlands and a few local roads. High water affects a few low oil fields.
23. 14.00 ftFlooding of the agricultural lands begin in the Hazleton area.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 22, 2026.

Most recent crests

• April 12, 2025: 30.00 ft
• April 12, 2025: 30.00 ft
• June 25, 2019: 26.30 ft
• September 17, 2018: 16.80 ft
• April 10, 2018: 26.80 ft
• March 3, 2018: 26.30 ft
• May 12, 2017: 26.70 ft
• January 5, 2016: 24.40 ft
• July 22, 2015: 23.50 ft
• March 19, 2015: 24.20 ft

• UpstreamWhite River (IN) at Petersburg
• DownstreamWhite River (IN) at Old U.S. Highway 41 located at Hazleton
• Patoka River at Princeton
• Wabash River at Mount Carmel
• Wabash River at Vincennes
• White River (IN) at Petersburg
• Pigeon Creek (IN) at Fort Branch
• Embarras River (IL) at Lawrenceville

Forecasts by the Ohio River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. Gauge reading only in high-water situations. Stage measured manually and reported by river observer. No automated gauge on-site.

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service.