State and city heavy machinery line the streets of North Mapleton Street near the intersection of Fifth Street, Wednesday afternoon, as they load damaged material for the landfi ll. As of Tuesday evening, 4,290 tons of fl ood-damaged material had been taken to the landfi ll, costing the city about $118,000 in tipping fees. The Republic photo by Joel Philippsen
State and city heavy machinery line the streets of North Mapleton Street near the intersection of Fifth Street, Wednesday afternoon, as they load damaged material for the landfi ll. As of Tuesday evening, 4,290 tons of fl ood-damaged material had been taken to the landfi ll, costing the city about $118,000 in tipping fees. The Republic photo by Joel Philippsen
Cost estimates
  Initial cost estimates of damage caused by flooding June 7, as reported by four entities to Bartholomew County Emergency Management:
    
  • Columbus Regional Hospital: $25 million
        
  • Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.: $3.15 million ($2.8 million at Columbus East High School, $300,000 at Southside Elementary, $50,000 at BCSC Administration Building).
        
  • Bartholomew County Highway Department: $2 million
        
  • Columbus Parks and Recreation Department: $1.5 million
        TOTAL: $31,650,000

    • By Kirk Johannesen, The Republic

    johannesen@therepublic.c

       The cost of the flood to Bartholomew County will exceed $100 million, according to Dennis Moats, director of Bartholomew County Emergency Management. 

        "I feel comfortable with about $150 million, but that might be low," he said. 

        Initial polling of Bartholomew County Highway Department, Columbus Parks and Recreation Department, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. and Columbus Regional Hospital estimated their damages at almost $32 million. 

        That figure excludes cost for overtime and fuel and damage to residences and businesses, including Cummins Inc. The company has not released an estimate, except to say damage likely would reach tens of millions of dollars. 

        Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce is compiling but has not yet finished a list of damaged local businesses. 

        Also, measures the city and the county might take to prevent such a flood or mitigate its impact would mean additional expenses. 

        Now that Federal Emergency Management Agency knows Bartholomew County has a significant level of damage and infrastructure damage, more opportunity for assistance is possible, Moats said. 

        He will meet today with FEMA to expedite assistance for infrastructure. 

        Bartholomew County Emergency Management also has received 519 reports of damage to residences and businesses. 

        However, that figure understates actual damages, said Deputy Director Shannan Hinton, because more than 1,400 people have applied for FEMA assistance. 

        She saw some homes with 17 feet of water in them, she said. And water in the businesses in Eastbrook Plaza reached at least 4 to 5 feet. 

        "We're still getting questionnaires returned to us. I expect the number to go up," Hinton said.

    Damage reports 

       The severity of reported damages and their frequency: 

        DESTROYED: 45. Defined as structural damage to walls and the foundation. 

        MAJOR DAMAGE: 264. Means a flooded basement and at least 1 foot of water on the first floor, or at least 2 to 4 feet of water on the first floor if the home lacks a basement. 

        MINOR DAMAGE: 188. Includes less than 2 feet of water in the basement, less than 50 percent damage to the structure and broken windows and doors. 

        AFFECTED: 22. Suffered minimal damage, can still be lived in, and some contents were damaged.
    © 2025 The Republic