Flooding fallout could be severe for many parts of Indiana

By Rama Sobhani, Herald-Times

rsobhani@heraldt.com

Though the floodwaters that devastated many parts of the state have mostly receded, effects of excessive water on Indiana's ecology and environment will linger for some time to come and may pose serious health hazards to state residents.

High waters and raging currents have already had catastrophic effects on property and infrastructure, but some of the changes in ecology and environment and the dangers posed by them have yet to materialize.

State agencies and academics are on the lookout for potential complications from things like pools of stagnant water giving rise to large mosquito populations, pollutants washing into water supplies, increased incidences of mold-related health issues, and loss of soil nutrients and crop damage.