Floods of January-February 1959 in Indiana

The floods of January-February 1959 in Indiana exceeded those previously known on many streams in the southeastern portion of the State in January and on several streams in the Wabash Valley during February. At least 3 lives were lost, more than 2,000 people were evacuated, and dozens of bridges were washed away.

Heavy rains falling on frozen ground caused unusually high runoff. Rainfall was greater in the January storm than in the February storm, but melting of snow that had accumulated before the February storm augmented the runoff in February.

Previous maximum stages during the period of record were exceeded at 26 gaging stations. The peak discharge of Big Indian Creek near Corydon, and peak stages of Laughery Creek near Farmers Retreat and Vernon Fork at Vernon on January 21, were greater than any since at least 1897. The peak stage of Wabash River at Huntington on February 10 exceeded that of the historical 1913 flood by 0.5 foot.