INDIANAPOLIS -
The remnants of Hurricane Isaac will bring rain to central Indiana this weekend, and Marion County residents are getting ready. The forecast has been revised from higher rain amounts to two to four inches over the next three days.
Hundreds of Marion County homeowners waited in line for over an hour Friday morning to pick up 25 sandbags.
The Department of Public Works distributed thousands of sandbags to residents from its building at 1725 S. West Street.
"If I can force the water away from the house, we can solve our problem, I hope," said Steve Nordhold. If not? "Guess I'll be getting a shop vac and cleaning out water!"
By Friday afternoon, forecasters were saying the storms will not be as severe as originally predicted. Rainfall amounts were adjusted from six or seven inches to two to four over the Labor Day weekend.
"If it happens and you didn't plan, then you're stuck trying to recover and that's hard to do," said Jennifer Clemmer, who was waiting to pick up sandbags.
For some homeowners, it's a game of inches. Melinda Coleman has placed her 25 sandbags in front of her garage. That's all she thinks she'll need to keep any water out.
"All this gets flooded," she said gesturing towards the inside of the garage the rest of her home. She's grateful for the free sandbags. "I feel blessed. I truly do."
Mayor Greg Ballard returned from the Republican National Convention and checked on flood preparation efforts.
"So far, so good," he said.
The improved weather forecast is a huge relief for Labor Day weekend events - although some were already canceled Friday afternoon, like Saturday's Labor Day Parade and Miracle Mile Parade in Indianapolis. But the US Nationals Drag Racing Championships has been revising its schedule and preparing for rain.
"We have five jet dryers out here and they can dry the track in an hour and a half, an hour and 45 minutes after it stops raining," said Scott Smith, National Hot Rod Association.
Forecast
Over the next several days, high clouds are expected to arrive Friday as the remnants move from Arkansas into southern Missouri. Rain showers, along with some heavy rain, are expected to arrive on Saturday afternoon and Sunday as the remnants begin to push northeast into Illinois.
Scattered rain showers are expected to linger across central Indiana on Monday as the remnants slowly weaken and slowly meander eastward into the Ohio Valley.
As the remnants depart as low pressure on Tuesday night, high pressure will build across Indiana, bringing dry weather for the middle of the next work week. Another cold front will approach our region Thursday as a strong upper trough digs into the upper Midwest.
Rain barrels
Don't let all that water go down the drain! This weekend's rain is a great opportunity for homeowners who have been struggling with their lawns during the drought. Rain barrels offer an easy solution to water collection for your indoor and outdoor plants as well as for your lawn.
Rain barrels are storm water storage systems designed to capture rainwater for either slowed release into natural or engineered storm water systems, or for other non-portable uses, such as irrigation. These systems are fed by downspouts and have a limited capacity for rain water storage, but provide excellent capture of water to reuse.
Rain barrels come in many different forms and capacity levels, but most can be constructed from the following items:
• A roof leader or runoff to the barrel
• A screen to prevent debris and mosquitoes from entering
• At least a 55 gallon barrel
• A slow release mechanism or pump to dispense the collected water
• And an overflow mechanism for when the barrel is full.
If you have a rain barrel already in place, there are a few things you can do to make sure it is ready to for the predicted rainfall. Make sure the barrel is empty and properly disinfected as well as clear all debris to ensure that the screen is not clogged and properly keeps leaves and other debris from entering the barrel.
Rain barrels are great for plant watering or car washing, but the water should not be used for drinking, cooking or bathing. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful will host a Rain Barrel workshop on October 16; participants to this hands-on workshop will construct a working rain barrel to take home, for a small fee.
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DPW workers filled sandbags all week.
Melinda Coleman has placed her 25 sandbags in front of her garage.
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