Flooding in Indiana, March 2 to 27, 1997

Widespread rainfall amounts around 10 inches in the middle Ohio Valley, from around Louisville to Cincinnati, occurred over a one to three day period. This resulted in a massive flood crest that took a few weeks to travel down the Ohio River. The resultant flood was the worst in about 30 years, and one of the five worst on record. Water from the Ohio River backed up into the Pigeon Creek, which flows through Evansville. About 60 homes were evacuated along Pigeon Creek, and two bridges over the creek were closed. In Warrick County, just a few families were forced from their homes. Numerous roads were closed for days at a time, including at least 50 in Spencer County alone. The banks along Newburgh's scenic riverfront were damaged. Indiana Route 662 and Water Street were closed in Newburgh by high water. In eastern Warrick County, backwater from the Ohio flooded Caney and Little Pigeon Creeks, flooding a few houses. In Spencer County, which was declared a disaster area, U.S. Route 231 was closed north of Rockport along with a few state highways. The town of Grandview in Spencer County was hardest hit, where about half of the town's 700 residents evacuated. All barge traffic was halted on the Ohio River upstream from Newburgh. Near Evansville, a few families were evacuated by boat.